Opus 2024-285: Parenting Skills

I was thinking about Providence, and how God wants us to trust him, yet, at the same time having received the gift of free will, we are expected to act responsibly.  At a time when we are concerned about the future of the country, what direction things will go, what kind of disasters or tragedies do we have to plan for, we wonder how much we should just kick back and trust and how much to go out and do our own thing.

This came to me this morning in the dark on my porch.  I know the parameters of the porch.  I know where the edges are.  At the same time I take my flashlight and I walk up to the edge with the beam targeting that spot and I don’t go any further.  Then I shine the light around the yard just to check and make sure that there are no skunks sneaking up on me.  The thought came to me as I was doing this that with my decline in hearing ability, someone could probably walk up to me on a bunch of crunchy leaves and I wouldn’t hear it.  Does that mean I stop checking?  No.  It means I continue to check in a positive way.

It’s kind of like a father who is trying to raise his son to be responsible.  There comes a point where you have to let the child fail or he will never learn to stand on his own.  And keep in mind that God wants us to be able to stand on our own as creatures made in His image.  He doesn’t want a bunch of clinging vines, hanging all over Him and saying, “Help me.  Help me.”  Of course that’s my read.  Results may vary, as the saying goes.

I don’t know if you’ve had the experience of teaching your child to ride a bicycle.  Training wheels are fine.  Pushing along with your feet like you’re on the scooter will get you there eventually.  Dragging your feet to stop will do the job if you have enough time.  But eventually you need to teach the child to balance, to use the paddles, and how the brake works.  Of course that’s only what do you need to do if you want a mature adult to emerge from your nurturing.

Too many parents today want to be their child’s buddy.  They want to be their security blanket.  They want to be the source of all things nice in their lives.  They don’t want to be mothers and fathers.  God is not our buddy.  He expects us to do our part.  If that offends your concept of grace and Providence, then you’re welcome to remain dependent.  I will take my dependence in the areas where God wants it to be.

So let me repeat.  Lock your doors.  Shut your windows.  Look both ways before you cross the street.  Test your coffee before you gulp.  Fill your gas tank when it gets half empty.  Have supplies for several weeks at least on your shelves.

And trust in God.

homo unius libri