"Parenthood: The Ride"

A friend of mine and I were talking recently on the phone and comparing stories about being mothers of teens and pre-teens. We began to liken the experience with that of riding on a rollercoaster: thrilling, fun and frightening all at the same time.

Sometimes you are coasting. The cart is gliding smoothly along the tracks over little hills and easy turns. You're actually enjoying the scenery around you. It's so wonderful when the family is seated around the dinner table caught up in the fun of the "How was your day?" chatter and the antics of the youngest child as she tries to get a laugh out of her older sisters. These girls can make us laugh until we can't see, because our eyes are all scrunched up and our stomachs hurt from the laughing. We snuggle on the couch watching movies and eating popcorn, pray together, go to the park to play, walk and talk.

This "Hallmark" moment is interrupted as you suddenly find yourself plummeting down a steep hill and through a tunnel where everything goes pitch black and the noises get loud, the shrieks of your fellow riders echoing in your ears. You think to yourself, "I've never been the parent of a teenager before!" You are bewildered as you try to help your pre-teen daughter who's starting to grow up but doesn't really want to. She's leaning towards independence but not feeling confident yet. She is becoming more responsible but feels immature. She's experiencing those pesky hormonal rushes of emotion that lead to temper tantrums, sudden bursts of tears, and fits of silly girlish giggles that can't be explained (and that could be just in the last 20 minutes).

Coming out of the black tunnel with hands clasped over your ears and a ridiculous expression of terror on your face, the light and open air brings relief and you relax, but only for a moment as you look ahead and see a huge hill. The cart lurches and starts to creep up the hill, the clackety-clack of the track seems to add to the dread of the big drop that is coming. Your oldest daughter is looking more like a young woman and less like a child. She is wanting to spend more time with her friends and in her room than with the family. She is talking of driving in a year and a half! She is going off babysitting, chatting with girls (and boys) on the computer, and as a friend so kindly reminded you, in the next 10 years she could be married with a child or two! The climb to the top is almost unbearable. Is this bar secure enough? Did I realize what I was getting into when I got on this ride? What if something goes wrong? What if my daughters make bad choices? Lord, I'm so thankful for my daughters and I know they believe in You. Please keep them safe. Please keep them close to You. Please fill in and make up for my mistakes and short-comings when I don't know what to do. Please don't let them fall!

The clacking stops and the rollercoaster cart starts to smoothly edge forward. I can see a gorgeous view from up here. It takes my breath away. The possibilities and potential of these girls is beautiful, Lord. You have made them that way. I've learned so much, but have so much still to learn.

The peaceful solace lasts only for a moment...
because you are beginning the descent...
the cart picks up speed...

and soon you're zooming straight down with your stomach in your throat, your hair blown back by the breeze, and a huge smile on your face.

Raise your hands! Go ahead - God is in control.
Enjoy the ride along with all the other parents who sit beside you, daring to lift their hands, too.