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As I
walked the beach with my friend Ellen she shared how difficult this season of
her life is. Ellen and her husband have
three children, each at a crossroads in their lives. Their older son is in his mid twenties, their
youngest is a blossoming teenage daughter and their middle child is severely
autistic.
One can imagine all that is entailed in
caring for her children. Greg once spoke
of our children when they were high school, middle school and elementary as the
makings of the “perfect storm.”
In this particular season, added to her
parenting responsibilities is the somber reality of her dad’s cancer diagnosis. As we walked in the surf and discussed each
scenario, I listened as Ellen shared how she was juggling and caring for those
God had entrusted to her.
Ellen is blessed to have a very
involved husband as well as some extra help to care for their middle
child. As she shared what she thought
needed to be done for each of her children, it occurred to me the resources she
had at this juncture.
She asked my opinion about what was going
on in her life. I told her with the help
the Lord had given her and with the ages of her children it was time to call in
help for her children and focus on her father’s care.
Now fast-forward five months.
Ellen’s father has spent the last three
weeks in the hospital fighting the complications of his cancer. Ellen has been by her father’s bedside or has
helped her mother make her pilgrimage to the hospital daily.
Ellen has made arrangements for her
husband and children. They are well
cared for. Ellen has been an amazing wife,
mother and daughter.
She will never regret the time she is
spending with her father and mother. Her
children are watching their mother care for their grandfather that is setting
an example for how they will treat her one day.
Sometimes being the best mom means
demonstrating what it means to be the best child. Living out a life of
integrity through care, humility and thoughtfulness will be a life lesson her
children will not only learn but will one day demonstrate.
As a spectator to this very hard season
in my friend’s life, I too am learning from her example.
Questions
to Ponder:
· How am I being an example to
our children?
· What life lessons are our
children learning from my daily behavior?
· How am I juggling the care of
our children and other significant relationships?
· How can I thank someone who is
being an example to me?
