For October 24th:

“You created me, and you keep me safe; give me understanding, so that I may learn your laws.”  Psalm 119:73. TEV

WERE EGG SHELLS NOT MEANT TO BE BROKEN?

Cathy Turner is leading a class on Wednesday night called “Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children.” Even though I have other commitments on that night, I have been reading the book.

It is as if this class has given so many of us parents permission to “come out of the closet”, so to speak. To bring our pain that in so many cases we have been hiding . Looking at our pain honestly and taking responsibility for our part in the situation. To talk honest about our fears, to see our guilt as something good, not something that prevents us from standing firm, but to allow our adult children to learn how to be dependent on God and not on us their parents.

I have felt as if I have “walked on egg shells my entire life.” First with a Dad who could lose his temper quickly, then with my own children. By “coming out of my closet” and talking with other parents, I asked myself why have I been so afraid to break those egg shells. Did God not create that egg to start with? Does that egg shell not have to be broken to be of use. An egg in its shell is uselessly. After it is broken it can be used for food that nourish our bodies. How can a new chick have life if it does not break out of the shell? Do we not use the broken egg shells as fertilizer, and even use them to clean disposals? What about Easter! Do we not compare the empty tomb to an empty egg shell to give our children an understanding of the Risen Christ.

I think of the words in James when he writes “consider it pure joy my brother when you face trails of any kinds.”( James 1:3 ) In not breaking those shells are we giving into fear, but by breaking the shells are we not putting our faith and trust in God our Creator?

Prayer: Dear Father My God, my heart signs at the joy of creation. You created each of us and You keep us safe, ourselves and our children. My heart is filled with gratitude for our teachers, our friends and so many others that You send to be beside us to strengthen us and give us understanding as we walk this journey. As we face our trails and grow is our relationship with You.

Ginnie McPherson