I am blessed to live in a neighborhood where the average age is…mature…to say the least. Many of my neighbors, if not most, are in their seventies and eighties. They have lived a very full life. Most have contributed magnificently to this fine country we live in, either through service to the country in the military or government, and also in the private sector as various heads of industries. It is a fascinating hood.
We moved in when Daly Kay was three months old. As our family grew exponentially, David and I went from being that “nice young couple” to “the family with all the kids.” I’m pretty sure there were several years where they questioned our sanity…perhaps many of them still do.
But I kept my nose to the grind. We were odd ducks because of our family size and homeschooling. I heard the rumors that circled. I saw the sideways looks. A bit too busy teaching ABC’s to play golf or get into tennis, I kept marching for years being almost unsociable because there was not much time to “do lunch.” So not only was I crazy for having so many children, weird for homeschooling, but now I was almost a recluse.
But you see… I have a dream {insert Inspiring music}. I may have never donned a military uniform to serve my country, but I have served her faithfully by raising these children. Rant whatever you want on facebook about politics…I’ll just focus and raise the change this nation needs at my dining room table. Go off about how twisted the film industry is, but I will raise someone who will inspire that industry to grace us with movies that will influence the culture in all the right ways. Bemoan that there is no hope for our country morally, but I’m too busy raising a future shepherd to a flock of unknown multitudes to complain. I have a boy growing up under this roof that will preach with his life as he plays ball in stadiums filled with fans that see Jesus in his eyes. I have a missionary who is called to a nation destitute of hope. Folks, I have a crazy dream about changing the world one diaper at a time.
And now my oldest three daughters don’t make my dream look so crazy. Full of purpose and faith, many of my friends neighbors who once doubted my sanity, now see hope in the young lives of my children. In Bible study, when the ladies shake their head in sadness about the direction of our nation, Daly Kay just tells them revival is coming. Moms and dads, our children are the future of this nation. Let’s raise the kind of future we want for our country. Industrious, hopeful, faithful, generous, insightful…
You aren’t raising a bossy tyrant of a two year old, you’re raising a leader. You don’t have a “needy” four year old, you’re raising an intuitive game-changer. Your son isn’t ADD for trying to shoot the enemies he imagines behind every tree and sofa – he’s a military genius who will fight to protect our liberty. I want you to dream with me too.
And even though your neighbors may think you’re out of your tree, you keep bringing your wee bit of tired new-momma or your worn out teen-momma and daddy faith to the one who HUNG ON THE TREE to make up for every failing you’ve endured as a parent. Keep dreaming and raising them as though they already are what you only envision them to be now. Keep marching in faith. Before you know it, you will see the hope of our nation’s future staring you back in the eye at bedtime. You will have changed this country one diaper, one day at a time.
holli says
Great post, and encouragement to be strong in The Lord and love to make the changes this world needs!!! After getting married we lived in a “hood” that in some ways sounds similar to yours with the mature neighbors. Recluse or not, I would have loved to have you all as neighbors! As the youngest homeowner there, my best hood friend was in her 60s (I was in my 20s at the time). I had only my school-aged stepson 50% of the time so I had some time to enjoy the spa, pool, fitness areas, etc but I didn’t really enjoy my time there as I spent a lot of time trying to find someone to relate to when I should have been using my time to just share God’s love. I just couldn’t relate to anyone of the few families closer to my age and began to question my own heart ( and sometimes sanity, lol!). I couldn’t relate to the mother spending tens of thousands of dollars on her eight-year old’s birthday party that didn’t much include the eight year old. I couldn’t relate to the healthy mother having a nanny for each of her four children while she went to tennis, spa, lunch with friends, golf, afternoon tea, and to the pool for her day (if the children are lucky they may get to spend time with her here)……then just waving off her crying child begging for her as they ride by on the golf cart with the nanny. To be honest, I am not a violent person but could not relate and actually wanted to push the mother of a four-year old boy into the pool when her son was having trouble swimming (she had been warned by the lifeguards twice to keep a closer eye on him) and she was screaming at the lifeguards to jump in and get him…….she couldn’t get her hair wet, she just had it done at the salon!!!! Really!?!?!….not trying to be judgmental but guilty (and forgiven) as charged. Of course, there were many many more things that I did not relate to, but these always stick out in my mind because the consequences of their actions and choices were at the expense and suffering of their children. God was calling us to move for other reasons, but after four years I was happy to move. Looking back, I realize the mothers previously mentioned are probably those that needed to be loved on most…..and I was weak and did a poor job of making any kind of “change” in this environment. Of course, I hadn’t raised a child from birth at this point to offer any advice had they inquired, but It seemed like common sense to me. No harm was intended by any of these mothers. I am no psychologist, but knowing what I do about them, my educated guesses are that the first mother’s actions were learned (her parents showed her “love” with money, etc); the second mother’s actions were encouraged by her insecurities, reinforced by others, in her mothering abilities; and the last mother, although I knew nothing much about her, looked like she had a lot more to worry about than the looks of her by the way her husband grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her after the pool occurrence. Let me be clear, I am by no means indicating your hood is anything like mine was there, other than average age of homeowners, but you are doing a admirable job of making that change in your community and our world! Thank you for making me think and encourage that change with my own family!
rachelgodin says
Great reminder. Thank you!