Wednesday, March 28, 2012

What If We Refused?

"Go hard on me, mom," declares eight-year-old, Robby, as we prepare to play one-on-one soccer in our back yard. I chuckle at his words for I know how much has changed in a few short years.


Just a few years ago I was holding back, running barely behind him as he kicked and darted toward the ball all the way up the yard to score a goal.  On occasion, I enjoyed hassling him, weaseling the ball away just to make him work harder and he'd complain that I was not going easy enough on him.


In just a few short years, he's grown and changed so much. He's more mature, able to control his emotions, and more athletically coordinated. We communicate, relate and laugh together and it wasn't even that long ago I sat up nights nursing and rocking him back to sleep.


One of those mid-nights, within the first week of bringing him home from the hospital, I had nursed him, changed his diaper, and swaddled him snug. When I went to lay him back down, he would not have it. As a new mother, I didn't know what to do for him. Weary and exhausted, I remember my anxiety rising that night. I had abruptly flung his blanket back open and re-swaddled him, then breathed deep and like a tide rushing in,  felt wisdom wash over me that would linger throughout my parenting years, not for one but for four children throughout infancy, toddlerhood, and into childhood:


Don't become frustrated, Theresa. This is just a season. You'll never have him this small again. Yes, you will lose sleep. It will be hard. But it will pass. These moments you'll find were gifts. Receive them.

I'm sure I have become frustrated over other issues, regarding children and sleep, over the past eight years, yet I cannot recall another night, hovering over an infant, in frustration over my sense of helplessness. Not one since that vivid internal monologue. And I've had many sleepless nights and those nights did pass. I encounter different frustrations and feelings of helplessness now in a whole new season and the never ending question remains, how do I choose to contend with those?

And I wonder if what made a difference eight years ago can make a difference today.

What if we refused? If we took a deep breath and decided we're not going to let weariness, frustration, and feelings of helplessness overtake our peace. We won't allow those emotions, that so easily creep in, to dictate our behavior. I wonder how it would change our parenting, how we see our children. 

Because we'll never have them as small and impressionable as they are now, ever again. Yes, we will lose sleep. It will be hard. But it will pass. What if these moments are gifts, even the hard ones? Will we receive them?

Today he dances with the ball over the winter withered grass, maneuvering fancy feet. He kicks the ball passed me and goes for the goal.

When we choose to see the bigger picture, the greater goal and desired outcome, our frustrations become small. If we intentionally commit to accepting that it will be hard, that cultivating the lives of our children will take labor, sacrifice and perseverance, maybe we will bounce back quicker when we stumble - because we will.

"Good game, mom. That was fun." Robby exclaims. "Thanks for playing with me." And I think I also hear, "Thanks for being patient with me through the years. Thanks for your dedication, perseverance, and for believing in me. Thanks for upholding me with dignity and respect even though I'm smaller than you and dad. Thanks for laughing with me, and for loving me no matter what."

And I think about the little things that never really mattered. And the things that do.


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I'm Guest-blogging over at Moms in Need of Mercy today with this post! I hope you'll visit Cheryl's beautiful and insightful blog.

6 comments:

  1. Love this post, Theresa. I remember those sleep deprived years. It is so tempting to lose our cool with our little ones, but you, as your bio states, "kept your eyes on Christ" instead of giving into the exhaustion. You were so wise. I didn't always do that with my kids and sometimes still don't, but it's a lesson we all need to remember! :)

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  2. When we choose to see the bigger picture, the greater goal and desired outcome, maybe our frustrations become small. If we intentionally commit to accepting that it will be hard, that cultivating the lives of our children will take labor, sacrifice and perseverance, maybe we will bounce back quicker when we stumble - because we will.
    amen to this...Theresa great post...I love your heart...I love what your wrestle here to be a better mom...I talked of the sacrifices of motherhood too.
    blessings to you:)

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  3. What wisdom you share here and what a blessing to be able to share that moment with your son. Blessings to you.

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  4. Oh, I love this one! My little soccer boy is now a teenager who leaves me in the dust. Smiling just thinking about those years I "went easy on him." Wish he'd give me the same grace! Thanks for the reminder that we CAN CHOOSE to refuse the frustration. Time is too short to be crabby! :)

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  5. Beautiful post, Theresa. Those moments are to be cherished. Just yesterday a friend commented that she would like to be able to attend our writer's meeting more often, but her days were filled with t-ball, soccer, and other activities. I told her to cherish those moments for they would all too soon pass.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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