Parenting Is Like Glassblowing

October 20 2011, 12:30 pm | Shannon Williams

Who knew?! 

Don’t even ask me how I got to this point today?  One minute I am sitting there exasperated by my children and the next God’s teaching me a lesson while bringing to mind glassblowing.  NO, I have not taken a class on it!  Just some random memory He chose to bring up. 

You know the moment in which you want to just give up!  Why try?  Little ones are crying, teens are frustrated to near tears, and mom is definitely on the verge of an explosion of emotion.  I’ve learned to walk away!  I already tried diving in and making an attempt to explain my requests.  It was evident that I was trying to convince them and nobody was going to win.  Well, except for maybe satan in destroyed relationships if I continued.

 Best to walk away and regroup with Gods perspective verses mine!

My first thought is why try?  This parenting thing is hard at times!  Can I do it?  Am I up to it?  Why did God think this was a good idea?

Somehow from my moment of why try, God brought to mind the lesson of glassblowing I watched years ago. 

• Glassblowing is a fine art.

So is parenting!

• When you glass blow you experience suspense, tension, and danger.

So does parenting!

• Glassblowing is a craftsmanship with art that is so fragile it can break with one wrong move.

Parenting can be too when we force it! 

That doesn’t mean we don’t hold some hard lines.  Nor does it mean we let little ones run around crazy!  We hold more hard lines when they are young and then begin to release that as they age.  It is a transfer of Mom and Dad teaching to allowing God to be the primary voice!   But honestly, wouldn’t parenting be easy if we could just make them do what we are requiring them to do?  If I didn't have to worry about teens becoming mature adults I think I would just force it!  Simpler for me!  But NOT a benefit to them!  

I’m so thankful that God didn’t leave it all up to me!

• What if I let go too early?
• What if I wasn’t supposed to let go at all?
• How will they get this without me?
• What if I am the one that has messed them up?
• What if they cross the line and don’t come back?

I really have to remember that God can work inspite of me!  If I don't remember that I can become frozen and not able to guide my teens at all.

I think great parenting comes when we work WITH God on parenting!  We raise and point them to HIM.  Then as teens we begin to let go and let God become the one who holds them close!

That means I am not always the one speaking TRUTH to them.  Let me rephrase that…I am not the ONLY one speaking Truth them.  Sometimes I need to let go and let God shape them, not me.  His hands are gentler, his hands are stronger, his hands work in perfection while mine are flawed.   Even though my hands aren't as skilled as His I still believe He desires to use us in their lives.  It seems to me we either can't handle our imperfection, or theirs, or we question our ability like that is okay to give up on what God has asked us to do.  He didn't say let me know when you are done, overwhelmed or scared and you are relieved of your duty! 

Where would we be if our soldiers gave up like that?

We are in a battle...a battle for the hearts of our children!

The skill comes in knowing when to work and when to wait.  Knowing when to speak and when to listen.  Knowing when to let them stumble and when to pick them up.  Knowing when to let go and when to step back in.  THERE is NOTHING simple about parenting a teen/young adult!  Frankly, it would be easier if I was about shaping the outside appearance verses a desire to see real heart change.  Heart change means…I must let go and let God. 

I play a huge role in my older children’s lives!  I cry for them!  I love them!  I wrestle with what to do!  I seek God on their behalf!  I learn to love and wait as God brings them to Him! 

No, parenting is not easy!  But the fact that God allowed me to be part of the process in this fine art of raising children for Him, is a treasure I will certainly be thankful for whether we are sitting in the heat or looking at the sweet result! 

Yes, it is worth the heat that comes our way as we teach and train these treasures in our lives.  I shall remain in the battle of training here, teaching this, and letting go there.  It means I get to stay fully engaged while it will never be easy.  But the best things in my life have never come easy!  I don’t plan on missing out  because I get flustered in this moment!

So how is your child rearing going?

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