As a mum I sometimes get the idea that life is all about teaching. I spend my days in tasks such as teaching Bubba girl how to eat solids, and teaching Miss 2 how to put on and take off her shoes.
I have come to the realisation that I have it back to front, life is all about learning. Bubba girl, Miss 2, Mr and I are all learning. (So maybe Mr and I already know how to put on our shoes and eat solids, but boy this parenting gig is really pushing the learning button for us)!!
The thing that I have found most amazing in this, is how God has taught me about himself, and his relationship to me, through my children.
Life lesson 1 : The concept of time is relative, the bigger you are the more perspective you have
Bubba Girl is 8 months old, and when she is hungry, she lets me know, loudly and at length. The only way to quiet her is to feed her. Miss 2 has a similar impatience, she does not yet understand the concepts of soon, later, or even wait!!! I find that I am strategic in telling her when things will happen. She cannot handle details of what will happen next week, or in a few days time. She needs to keep her focus close.
I am beginning to catch a glimpse of how it is with me and God. How he has a bigger plan, and I don’t need to know what is going to happen next, because I can’t yet handle it. How I get impatient with him when waiting for things, and nag him over and over again, and I can’t quite grasp the concept of soon, later or wait! How in fact I am the child and I need to keep my focus close.
Children are the best teachers! They teach us that we take ourselves too seriously, that mess can be fun, and to live with abandon.
Being a parent also makes you realise just how big it is to sacrifice a child.