Preparing the Child
by: Rebecca Little, Elementary School principal
As parents, it is natural for us to want to protect our children from any harm, hurt, or hardship that may come their way. It is difficult to let go and trust the Lord, and often we catch ourselves paving the road ahead instead of allowing them to fall and learn from mistakes. Here at Perimeter School, we align with the adage that it is best to “prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.”
The nest
A few springs ago, God gave me a special gift on my front porch that taught me a valuable lesson about this topic. For several weeks, it was a joy to watch a mother and father House Finch build their nest together and prepare for their brood. I had a perfect view of the nest as I sat on the stairs in my foyer. After the nest was complete, the momma bird sat patiently and diligently on her eggs. Often, she would not even fly from the nest when I opened the front door. She was the protector of her precious little ones, which was appropriate at that time. The daddy was always close by, perched on the Crepe Myrtle, especially after the babies had hatched. I watched the nestlings grow and be fed by both the momma and daddy. I am sure at times the parents were afraid for the safety of their birdies as my two cats would perch themselves on the banister, waiting for a chance to pounce. As the days passed, momma and daddy were not around as much, and the babies were spreading and flapping their wings. One morning, I peered out the window, as I had every morning, to see what might be happening in the nest. The babies had successfully flown out on their own to explore God’s creation.
I share this experience with you because it gives us a simple picture of what preparing the child and not the road should be. We as parents build our “nest” for the precious gift of children that God has so graciously given to us. We work together to build a home, feed, and protect our little ones from danger and things that may be hard. As they grow, we must learn to shift to a mindset of equipping and providing them with the tools needed to navigate life with grace and resilience.
the road ahead
All of this requires trust and asking God daily to help us release them to His care and His plan. Each child God has given us is uniquely created, and we need to seek wisdom and discernment to know when we may be holding on too tightly or giving them too much control. When do I let them fall and when do I catch them from falling?
Take some time to be still and examine your nest by asking yourself and the Lord these questions:
Are the children too much the center of our family?
Am I putting them before my spouse or before what God tells us in His word is best?
Where should I allow them to stretch and spread their wings?
Am I helping too much and enabling them, which can breed immaturity and lack of self-esteem or am I giving them the little pushes to the edge of the nest and equipping them for the flight?
We at Perimeter School will do our best to partner with you in preparing your child for the road ahead. The habits that we teach along with other rules, requirements, and policies are meant to give our students guardrails that then give them security. When they crash through those rails or get scratched and bumped, remember that they are growing and learning to lean on Him in times of weakness, trouble, and uncertainty.