The ride started off smoothly - we went up high and we went down low and then it began to spin and spin and spin and spin. At this point the "mild thrill" had left me and the dread of the ride had begun. But to the children's great pleasure no one else was in line, so the kind man who ran the ride allowed us to ride extra long!
So as the ride went on and on, my sister began taking photographs and I had to laugh - actually I began to laugh hysterically at the situation I had gotten myself into! Well, in the end, I kept lunch down - phew - and I would have to say that I would do it all over again!
Have you found motherhood to be like the spinning balloons? There's the waiting and expectation that is unbelievably exciting. Your sweet baby arrives and there are highs and lows. One day it's so fulfilling to hold your baby in your arms and the next day you are so exhausted you wonder what you have gotten yourself into.
Then there are the days when the children begin to grow and you are thrown for a whirl as you train your children to obey God and his word over and over and over. This can be some of the hardest times of motherhood - training our children. Galatians 6:9 says "Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Do Not Give Up
Do you feel weary? Like the ride is spinning and you wish it would stop? Galatians 6:9 says to not grow weary - why? Because there will be a return for all your hard work if you do not give up.
Anchor Yourself to Christ
The one thing I knew for sure on the ride was that I was not going to fly off the ride. I was anchored in by a seat belt. I knew I was safe even though my stomach was not so sure about that!
In motherhood, our hope in Christ guarantees our safety. He is our anchor. We need him everyday to keep our feet firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 says "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
Trust in God
We make a lot of big decisions as moms - schooling decisions, friendship decisions, sports decisions and on and on it goes. I am convinced that fear is not to be a part of motherhood - yet I know that worry is something all moms do.
Solomon says in Proverbs 3:5 and 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
The Ride is Short
We only have our children for a short time. The ride is short. Soon they will be grown and the ride will be over. How will you have spent the ride? Weary? Fearful? Worried? Or strong, secure, and trusting God.
My little boy was 4 at the time of the ride. He watched me with little blue eyes to see if I was scared or secure. I reassured him that things were fine and as I began to laugh that calmed his nerves even more and together we pulled through the spinning.
Our children are looking up to us to guide them through life. They are watching us with little eyes and learning how they should respond to life by how we respond to life. They need us to be strong, secure, and trusting God. Cling to Jesus as your anchor.
Before you know it the ride will be up. Your children will be grown and there will be no more rides to take together. So for now - enjoy the ride - take time to laugh a little and when you feel like you are starting to spin, hold onto Jesus - he will NEVER fail you.
Courtney
