Surviving the Storm

Sandy is winding her way north and we survived the storm without losing power, which always makes me happy!  The nice thing about this storm is that we knew days in advance.  There was time to fill our cars, stock up on water & food, fill the tub with water for flushing and time for all sorts of other preparations.

Life isn't always like that.  Sometimes we don't have advance notice when a storm is about to hit.  One  minute we are merrily skipping along and the next, we are plunged in darkness.

Raising children is a lot like this.  Sometimes we see the storm coming and have time to mentally prepare.  Other times, there is no warning.  With my own children, there have been times that I see warning signs that I need to prepare and plan for, and then there have been other times that I've been blindsided by a monster of a storm.

The thing that is true in every case is that God has been with me in the midst of it.  He is never taken unawares.  He knows exactly what is going to happen.  He knows the end result.  Trusting Him whether I'm prepared or not has been the thing that has gotten me through to calm weather. 

 
"Sometimes God calms the storm. At other times, he calms the sailor. And sometimes he makes us swim."
~ Author Unknown

When I'm struggling with an issue with my child there have been so many times that I want God to take away the problem.  I don't want to deal with it.  I want calm seas.  Yet, more often than not, I have been the one He has calmed.  The problem is still there, but I am calm in the middle of the turbulence.  And yes, there have been times when I've had to learn to swim.

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear".
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Freedom from fear.  I'm learning this.  I'm learning to pray and ask God to help me face whatever He brings my way with faith and fearlessness.  We will go through trials with our children, but facing them with faith provides comfort.



"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm". ~ Willa Cather

Like it or not, I will only grow and stretch and mature as I face a storm.  Calm seas will never happen 100% of the time no matter how much I try.  I can control all the variables and I still will face the storm.  And it's in the midst of the storm that I often learn the greatest lesson.

 "I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship." ~ Louisa May Alcott  

Finally, I have found that in the midst of the storm, God gives me the tools I need to navigate it when I'm trusting Him.  When I am dependent on Him for wisdom and strength, He will teach me to steer through the storm.

Raising children is hard.  They don't come with instructions.  They will disappoint us.  They will hurt us.  They will bring us joy.  They will bring us heartache.  The storms will come and you won't always be prepared.  Yet, when we trust God and seek Him in the midst of the storm, we will see calmer days ahead