Have you ever been in an elevator where some people get on and continue a conversation like no one else existed within that space? That’s who we were on that day. We busted into the elevator and my chatter boxes went on and on until we got downstairs. As we made to step out, the mature lady who we’d met in the elevator and obviously ignored completely, waved to us and said to me “Enjoy them now.”
In actual fact, we were all oblivious of her presence because even I was too preoccupied with them. What stirred me though was not just the ‘I have been there’ kind of confidence she passed across but the emphasis on ‘now.’ “Why did you say‘now’ ma?” I asked. Her summarized response was that this was the easiest of the stages of their growth. Hmm… I didn’t think so!
At that point I was waiting for them to grow up enough to manage themselves and to me that was going to be the best stage. Then they grew up; first of all it happened too fast! I had to keep up with the pace and get real that they were no longer babies.
This growing up came with its own ‘high jump’; we now do analysis to make our decisions since we all ‘know’. However something delicate is missing. At this point, my challenge is now, how do I help them to understand that life’s successful outcomes are not necessarily a product of logic? How do you teach a smart young teen that 1+1 is not always 2? How do I help a microwave mentality generation to understand that short cuts are great but the devil is in the details?
Someone was trying to guide a young adult’s career choice and he said he wants be a ‘Consultant’. How does she help him understand that you need to be an expert at something first before you can be a consultant at it? Another young man I was counselling told me he wanted to be a Movie Star. I particularly liked the ‘star’ in it but I had the task of helping him understand that it takes hard auditioning to first be chosen as just an actor and then being diligent before you begin to think of the ‘star’ part of things.
And then guess what, I thought I had it figured out at last! The Promised Land will really be at the point where they become independent. Then I met a mother of a married woman whose major prayer point for now is for her daughter to be blessed with children. Another one is concerned about her son getting a job so that he can rise up to the responsibility of headship of his home. This thing no get end o!
At this point it has dawned on me that it is an unrelenting work that parents have been called to. It actually never ends and quite frankly, I have decided to enjoy it as we go along. I am no more looking forward to that Promised Land because it is actually here and now! It was at the point when they were unable to chatter or even have an opinion as babies, at the point of pregnancy, at all points!
In all these I have learnt that whilst there is no stopping on this duty, the benefits and rewards are actually laced in the everyday experiences we have and the changes that we see as we ‘culture’ these special ones for God (hopefully).
Quite frankly, I am not sure why me, but I am determined to present them as Trophies to Him when the time comes.