Leave It To God

Growing up, I always longed for the "Leave It to Beaver" family. Who hasn't wished for a family dynamic that was peaceful and sweet? Yes, I know that the Cleavers didn't have girls, but I wanted those relationships - strong and secure.

My childhood family was amazing - don't get me wrong. I love my brothers, mom, and dad very much. And I know how lucky I am to have them (had, in my dad's case, as he passed away in 2010). But we had our share of tangles and snags, as many families do. My dad and I didn't really see eye-to-eye. We were a lot alike and knew how to hurt each other (not physically...) easily. My older brother is ten years older, so he left home when I was still pretty young.

So when watching TV, I would see all those wonderful relationships and wish for our family to be closer.

The other day, I rounded up my Dingoes and my husband, and we all went out for a walk. Strolling down the road of our quiet neighborhood, the wind rustled the leaves in the tress above. I watched Dingo #1 and Dingo #2 ride their bikes ahead of us, while Dingo #3 sat in her stroller and babbled. My husband walked by my side...

...and it hit me. God had answered my childhood prayer. Not when I expected it. Not in the circumstances in which I had asked. But He answered my prayer in my adult family - the family in which He used me to help create.

What an awesome realization!

The more I thought about it, the more I began to understand how He allows us to make choices. I can choose to be grumpy toward my kids, or I can choose to embrace them. I can choose to make things better, or I can stay stagnant in misery. I can choose to give my kids a safe, loving environment, or I can choose to splinter our family. Isn't it obvious?

I love how God used my childhood dreams and longings to help shape my adult family. Thumbs up, Big Guy! And no, we're not perfect by any means. But with God as our center, can we go wrong? As Romans 8:31 tells us: "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Safe in His loving hands.