So today my friend said, "You guys should start a parenting blog." I laughed, never thinking of the fact that I already have a blog, just not specific to parenting...
I laughed because I often feel like I am just a smidge of mustard short of a perfect backyard burger, or maybe an ounce shy of just enough mouthwash to really chase away bad breath... I guess you could say that I often feel like I'm just not quite good enough. THAT'S why I laughed... who on Earth would want to hear my two-cents on parenting?
Well, SHE did. So then I got to thinking... If I think someone will want to hear my rantings and wanderings and ravings and wonderings of life and all that is creativity... maybe, just maybe, someone would want to hear about my parenting.
The story that prompted all this self-evaluation (and self-criticism) was from a few days ago. My girl is now thirteen. She is just old enough to start thinking on her own (even if she does still need to be told WAKE UP, GET UP, WASH UP, CLEAN UP, STRAIGHTEN UP... sorry, I digress...) and for whatever reason, she asked me this...
"How do you KNOW there really is God? I mean, I believe and all, but how do you KNOW?"
You know the Holy Spirit is alive and well when someone like me can rattle off something so simple yet it worked beautifully... "You don't question if there really is wind even when you can't see it moving the trees, right?"
That seemed to answer that, but she had a one, two punch up her sleeve... "Okay, but what about the Holy Spirit? What is THAT all about and how do you KNOW there really is such a thing?"
Oh my word. I am ready for "the birds and the bees". I am ready for "how to choose a college". I am ready for most things. Thankfully, yet again, the Holy Spirit said, "I'll take this one."
"You know that gut feeling when you did something wrong? THAT'S the Holy Spirit."
My girl volleyed, "Everyone knows when they do something wrong, Mom. That's not the Holy Spirit."
I just let it roll. "Honey, we are taught right from wrong and most do know when they do something wrong. I'm not talking about when you know in your head you are doing something wrong. I'm talking about that pit in your stomach, the nauseating feeling when you are getting ready to do something you know is wrong and your gut screams, 'DON'T DO IT!' THAT is the Holy Spirit looking out for you, trying to guide you, loving you enough to say no."
She liked that answer. I'm confident the facebook "like" button was pressed over that answer.
See, I am quite certain, 99.9% positive that it wasn't me that explained it in that way. Why am I so certain? Because just last week at Bible study I, me, not the Holy Spirit, described "said Holy Spirit" as the Jiminy Cricket that says, "Oh you really ought not do that!" Yep, that's how I can tell when I let Jesus take the wheel... Because Disney characters aren't driving the bus.
And all God's people said, "Amen."
