A View Of Parenting From The Mountaintop
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
At the top of the mountain everything looks different. This past weekend my girls and I watched a gorgeous sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We, nestled in our room at the mountain lodge, happened to be at just the right place outside to observe a magnificent moment- a vivid sunset too beautiful to language. How I wish you could have seen it too.
We observed with silent expectancy as a little at a time the red golden ball disappeared from view. It was the ending of another day and with the ending the hush of evening descended and millions of little twinkly lights appeared in the valley below. The reds in the sky softened to areas of pink and purple before our eyes. In only a matter of minutes our place up on the mountain top was transformed and we experienced the splendor of a very special night. It was an experience that I will remember for a long time.
Quite spontaneously we had climbed in the car on Saturday morning. It had been a long time since we had gone up higher. Somehow on this particular day everything fell into place. We even grabbed an overnight bag and quickly filled it with toothbrushes, pajamas and some clothes. But our plan was really to just spend the day taking a hike and maybe eating a meal on the mountaintop. October is not the time of year to expect any openings at the lodges.
I was looking forward to the time of getting a higher view. Everything looks different from up high. Even parenting looks different. From up high small annoying habits don't seem so, well, annoying. From the mountaintop the bigger picture of parenting is clearer. This is easy to miss in the day to day rush of living. Yes, up higher the goal of raising strong girls with godly characters is more obvious. My desire to see them become all that He wants them to be is even greater from the heights.
Well unexpectedly we found a cozy room to stay in over night. The air was cool and crisp. The scent of fires burning in fireplaces and ripened apples was everywhere. We spent a long time sitting out on our deck watching the lights shining in the valley below. The cool air forced us to grab blankets to wrap around us as we watched and talked long into the night. It was a memorable adventure in which we all got a stronger vision and a greater sense of God's purpose in our lives and in our family.
One thought that struck me again was that we parent for only a season. We love our children for a lifetime.
It all looks different from the mountaintop. Take the time to climb the mountain soon. You'll be so glad that you did. And so will your whole adoptive family.
Posted in Adoption | 2 Comments
"we watched and talked long into the night..."
"It all looks different from the mountaintop.."
What a gift to your girls, and a gift from your God.
Thanks for the reminder.
Kathy — October 14, 2008 @ 7:37 AM
Thanks for your comments.
Sharon — October 14, 2008 @ 9:19 AM
Reply to this Post: