Kids are getting less dependent

It's a bright, crisp winter morning. It's 8:00 a.m. and I'm in bed, waiting to hear our kids stir. The boys and their friends slept in the family room. I don't want to wake them, so I am enjoying a lazy morning. Hmm, once they awaken I'll make waffles and bacon for breakfast. They love homemade waffles, and we have no place to rush to this morning.

But it then hit me that they are less dependent on me, and it's a liberating feeling as well as a sad one. The days of me being their sun are gone - they now look to me for guidance, money, rules and love. They are capable of making many of their own plans and decisions. They're even old enough to willingly accept the consequencse of poor choices - such as not studying enough for a test or procrastinating on a project.

It's interesting to me that God created these little guys, and girls, who enter our world completely reliant on us. We love them with our heart, soul, mind and strength. It's a love that is completely overwhelming when we stop and examine it. We love with no expectations. They grow up and love us in return - they love because we first loved them. God created this relationship to reflect how he loves us - completely, unconditionally, because we are his. We grow and love him because he first loved us.

With that love we grow into the people he has called us to be. That loves extends to our children, too. They grow because of our love and support. We see glimmers of who they will be as they mature. Our love gives them the roots from which to grow. We give them the freedom to explore their gifts and passions, and we pray they make the right choice. Just like God hopes we make the right choice.

It's helpful for us to remember that God has the same expectations of us as adult children of God as we have of our children. We give them rewards when they are obedient and work to their potential, just as God promises blessings to those who are obedient to him. It's a "practice what you preach" type of lesson. So maybe as we remind our children of our expectations of them, we should pray and ask God to keep us obedient to him and his expectations of us.