Someone recently asked me why I'd had children in the first place. It made me realise that whilst I enjoy the cuddles and the explosion of so many different feelings, I actually view my mother's role as one of preparation and launch. We try to be intentional in the way we bring up our boys so that when the right time comes they are prepared and ready to enter the big wide world with plenty to offer.
I see our boys as arrows. At the moment, they are blunt and misshapen. It's our job to sharpen them.
And sometimes that's painful.
Painful for the boys because discipline is tough. When was the last time anyone actually enjoyed being faced with the consequences of a wrong choice? Sharpening the arrow hurts as you scrape away the dull parts which cling on but are of no use.
It's painful for us too. Our bare hands and hearts are covered in blisters as we repeat the same action, over and over again, until it is finally understood. Repetitive strain injury sets in as we keep on reminding our boys of the same words, same consequences, same actions, same outcomes. Exhaustion, sorrow, confusion and sometimes disappointment all add to the hurt.
Why put ourselves through so much pain? Why bother? Why not just enjoy and relax?
I don't want to produce blunt arrows which won't hit the target. Our role as parents is to equip our boys for what is ahead and to shape them for the challenges and delights they will face. Despite the blistered hearts, we are determined to keep sharpening our little arrows so that when we place them in our bow and fire them out they whoosh through the air like the nerf bullets they so often play with. Our world needs disciplined, determined, loving, faithful, strong, courageous arrows to land all over it's needy and desperate shores.
I want to be a part of sharpening those arrows.
And that's why I had children.
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