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The Paradox of Parenting and How To Trust God More

Saturday night we got a phone call no parent wants to receive. Our daughter had just left our house to return to her college apartment. When we said our goodbyes, my mothering instincts kicked in and I reminded her to be extra careful and watch out for drunk drivers. When her name popped up on caller ID a half-hour later, my heart sank, and I knew something was wrong. She was crying and said, “I’m all right, but I’ve been in a car accident.” Both relief and panic set in simultaneously, and we rushed out the door to go get her. 

By the time we reached the scene of the accident, we learned what had happened. Another driver (probably drunk, but who fled the scene) had sped up behind her and hit her back right bumper, sending her Volvo convertible into a tailspin down I-10. When her car stopped spinning, she was facing oncoming traffic and a semi-truck was barreling her way. She jumped out of her car and was able to cross the other lanes of traffic and get safely to the shoulder. Thankfully, the semi was able to change lanes, and avoid a subsequent hit to her car. The whole thing was over in seconds, but four days later, I’m still trying to come to grips with it.   

The Paradox of Holding On and Letting Go

You can imagine all the ‘what if’ scenarios that have played through my mind since Saturday night. Any number of factors could have changed the outcome of our story from a close call to a tragedy. The more I think about it, the more uneasy, and the more thankful I become.

Since the accident, my husband and I have joked that maybe she should just move home, and do homeschool-college. Why isn’t that more of a thing? She could stay here, and we could keep her safe. Even though we love having her home, we know letting go is part of the normal course of growing up.

From the moment our babies leave the safety and protection of the womb, we are literally and figuratively pushing them out. They can’t stay in the nest forever, and this brings us joy and sorrow. Isn’t this the paradox of parenting? The more we want to hold on to them, the more time reveals we have to keep letting them go, little by little

We Like to Think We’re In Control

My phone has a feature where it pulls up a series of photos from this week in years past. It reminds me of chubby cheeks, messy diapers, and what seemed like a season where I had more control. Back then I wasn’t worried about drunk drivers, active shooters, or perps hiding behind the bushes. It’s easy for me to become nostalgic and forget that even when I controlled more of their environment, I was often at my wit’s end as to how to control them.

And therein lies the problem with our control issues. We like to think we have some measure of control over our children’s lives, but when the drunk driver hits them on the freeway, we’re reminded how little control we really have.

I’d like to believe that as their mother, with their best interests at heart, I know what’s best for my kids. What’s best for them is to always get safely from point A to point B. I’d be perfectly happy bypassing these too-close-for-comfort reminders that I am not in control. 

Finding Rest in Our Dependence 

We don’t like the uncertainty of placing our lives and survival in others’ hands. There are too many factors outside of our control. But when the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, his answer was the opposite of what they expected. They probably expected him to say the greats would be the ones who’d cast out demons in his name, or did other great feats for God. But Jesus put a child in their midst and said,

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4

Children may try to assert their control, but they are completely dependent on their parents for survival. And that’s how we are to be as God’s children. We may be adults, but spiritually, we have to become like children. Greatness isn’t found in our perceived self-sufficiency but in our utter and complete dependence on the Father. 

Is Safety Ultimate?

I admit that I’m not very good at this letting go business. I’m about to get even more practice at it in the fall when our son also heads off to college. Even writing those words hurts my heart. I should be happy that he’ll only be 45 minutes away, he feels a call on his life, and he’s pursuing it. All those things do make me happy and proud, but he won’t be here and I don’t know how I’ll bear it when that day comes.   

How will they get stronger, if they don’t take risks, and venture out of the nest? How will I get stronger if I don’t exercise my faith and child-like dependence on God to protect those I love most? 

God’s In Control

Maybe Dory in Finding Nemo said it best when she remarked on Marlin’s control issues over Nemo’s safety. “You can’t never let anything happen to him then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.” 

We laugh because we all know how true this is. As parents, we’re constantly balancing our God-given instincts to protect, with our own dependence on God to help us let them go. How does this practically work itself out? I don’t know.

One thing I do know, is the older I get, the more dependent I am on God’s grace to do just about everything.

So we keep praying for them, we keep trusting God to protect them as only he can, and we keep checking for drunk drivers on I-10. It’s a wild world out there. How good it is to be a child of the Father who’s in control of it all. 

Depending on him,

Cara   

P.S. I’ve made my Paths of the Righteous e-book free for download. It will encourage you in your path of life, to trust the Good Shepherd like many saints of old. Enjoy!

16 Responses

  1. I found myself right there with you in that weak-kneed fear and humbling realization that God holds our lives and our hearts.

  2. Oh Cara, 100% my heart. My kids are 31 and 32. The hardest day of my life was leaving my daughter at college (3000 miles from home). And the second hardest was when she moved away again from San Diego to VA this last spring. I often have to remind myself of what it really means to “surrender all.”

    1. Our kids are like our hearts living outside of our bodies, right? I hurt for your long-distance relationships. It is a daily surrender, I totally agree!

  3. Wow Cara! What a scary evening that was. I can identify with your struggles. The illusion we often have that we can protect our children if they are near us is so false, isn’t it?
    And I love your comments on the upside-down-ness of Gods Kingdom. I know you didn’t use those exact words. But that is the term used in a study I have been in this year of Luke. So interesting. So not American in the sense of being tough and strong and independent!
    Great post!

    1. YES 100% Martha! The upside-down-ness to the Kingdom is so real, and so comforting in it’s own way! Thank you friend! 🙂

  4. Cara – I can TOTALLY relate. It’s quite interesting everything the Lord teaches us through parenting! Great post!

  5. I can relate to this. With two adult children I find myself trying to hold on tight but I know that its time to relax the grip. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad your daughter is ok.

    1. Me too, Felicia! Holding on and letting go…I’m still trying to figure it out myself. Thank you for your comments!

  6. learning this now, even as a parent of 5 kids under 7 years old. It’s not all in my control, but I’m so thankful that nothing is out of God’s hands!

  7. Cara, how scary to get that phone call. Your article makes me want to get on my knees and thank God for the control He exerts over our lives and our kids’ lives. Your words remind me that His grace is sufficient (& yet I struggle with wanting more)! So well written, Cara. Thank you…

    1. Thank you, Mary! It is so hard to let them go little by little. But I am learning to trust God with each new milestone. I pray you are too!

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