We all want our kids to succeed and do well. But what exactly does that mean? Both of our kids walked well at 10 months old. Of course, we were so proud when they beat the walking-at-1-year standard. I'm sure our faces were beaming as they followed us like Frankenstein from room to room.
Years pass, and there are new milestones and standards to meet. We enroll Carly in tee ball and help her practice. We pitch to her, play catch, and play our own little tee ball games at home so she has some sort of idea of what's going on. We want her to do well.
Carly also started swimming lessons this week. She has never been a natural fish in water, but she doesn't mind it when we dump pitchers of water on her head in the bathtub either. One battle we face with beginner's swimming lessons is the fact that she does not like to go under. Maybe it's because we didn't dunk her when we took her swimming as a baby. Maybe it's because she's witnessed Isaac's wide-eyed "I'm drowning" face several times. (See the fish pond blog for one example of this.)
As parents, it's so easy to compare our children with others. Other kids her age are doing this...or that. We subconsciously try to form our kids to be the best. But what does it matter?! Sure, it is important that we teach our kids the necessary skills for survival. Swimming is one of those things that might be necessary. Tee ball is helpful in that it teaches our kids to work and play with other kids and listen to a coach's instruction. But wait, was the battle I picked yesterday with Carly at the pool really necessary? I strongly encouraged her to go under...to the point of her whining and crying. She's gone under twice at swimming lessons, but she didn't go under this time. My "encouragement" probably made matters worse.
This morning as I was re-evaluating that pool situation and every reason for signing kids up for activities. I was reminded of our real p.u.r.p.o.s.e. in life. Have you ever noticed that the Bible does not instruct parents on how to teach their kids to swim? It talks about patience. It doesn't say a word about batting techniques. It doesn't even tell you what to do if you feel like your $60 on swimming lessons might be wasted. God's Word teaches us how to live. It teaches us HEART issues. It teaches us our real purpose - knowing Him and glorifying Him. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).
The questions were asked to us on Wednesday night: How many years have you spent gaining knowledge (schooling, studying, etc.)? How much time / effort / money has gone into being physically healthy? How many years have you made money? ........... And the question of the day: If your ONLY purpose is to know God (and glorifying Him goes hand-in-hand with that), HOW DOES THAT COMPARE to the amount of time and effort you've taken to know God?
We can parent our children as best we know how, but that better include working on their heart a whole lot more than their motor skills.
AMEN to that!
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