28 May Being A Planner

I am a planner! It’s actually a gift of mine. If there’s a party coming up , I have everything down just right to the very detail. The gift of planning also ties in with my parenting. I have sippy cups prepared, breakfast, activities throughout the day for whatever moment we are in. Most of me feels like it is just being a good mom to have things prepared and to show your children that you love them but another side of me does it to avoid conflict. Nothing worse then a child who is whiny from point A to B because they have nothing to drink. Or to go to someone’s house that does not have toys. Especially those times that you just get on the road and someone has to use the bathroom. So I am constantly thinking and preparing in the moments before.

Well as I have been listening for God’s voice to direct me throughout the day, I have been hearing no! Do not get him a juice for the ride. Do not pack toys its okay for them to be bored. Forget your own breakfast and you’ll find something later. These types of requests make my job harder! This is what I explained to the Lord, lol. I am also a runner from conflict up until recently. I’m learning to see a new side to conflict. I’m learning that sometimes it’s bad but sometimes it’s really good. I’m learning that if you just get through the rain there’s always that rainbow.
So as I’m journaling this morning about not being so prepared for the children the Lord showed me that what I thought was actually helping my children is hurting them. He showed me an image of a desert with water available for teeth brushing and king size soft beds for the kids. A box of toys. Towels by the water for drying off. And as I began to ponder these things he said this is what it looks like.

He asked me “how are you teaching your kids survival skills when they are on a cruise all day long? You provide everything they need but what happens when they step out into the world and you are not there. Teach them how to live in the desert because this is the real world. Not everything gets handed to them and sometimes it’s a real struggle. Teach them how to drip dry instead of using the towels. Teach them how to play with the rocks and build stuff in the dirt and get rid of the toys. Show them how to make a bed by using one another as a soft pillow and taking turns and get rid of the king size beds. This is loving your children.”

Even for myself when I have everything planned throughout the day and things don’t go my way it’s easy to throw a fit. If you want to be led by the Spirit of God you have to be willing for things to not go your way. You have to be listening. Available. Interrupted. And so on… And instead of throwing a tantrum yourself, learning survival skills. I have even done things this week myself on purpose to get out of my own comfort zone. Even things like forgetting to pack my own breakfast only to find out that it worked out perfectly as God provided. Some things like these are not only important for kids but just as important for ourselves.

So just when it looks like you’re in the desert…. Look for new ways and opportunities. Deserts are no fun but if we all have to be there at least we can teach ourselves (and listen for God) a new way of survival so that each time we have to walk back into that desert we’re a little more experienced and ready. I believe that God, as a good father, wants to teach us survival in the desert once we stop kicking and screaming our way through it. At least I know this is his good will for me.