Did you know a search on Amazon for “parenting books” will yield over 60,000 results? These books will come from a wide variety of experts, like Dr. Spock, John Rosemond, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and they will have a wide variety of titles, everything from Parenting with Love and Logic to Duct Tape Parenting. (I have to admit, I’m dying to read that one!)
The majority of these books seem like they offer good advice and would be good places to turn with parenting questions. But you know where I’m not looking for parenting advice?
The Old Testament.
Think about it. There’s the story of a mom who convinces her son to take advantage of his dad’s failing eyesight and steal his brother’s birthright. Then there’s the story of a dad who favors one son so much, his brothers end up hating him and selling him into slavery. If you ask me, these people aren’t making the cover of Parents magazine anytime soon.
But the one that really gets me is the story about the mom who puts her baby in a basket and floats him down a river. Not only was this river notorious for crocodiles, but I’m pretty sure that basket didn’t come with a 5-point safety harness.
When I hear the story of baby Moses, I’m often overcome with the same incredulousness Reese Witherspoon has in Sweet Home Alabama when she looks at her friend and says, “Look at you, you have a baby . . . in a bar.” She knows what she is seeing is totally inappropriate. And I feel the same way toward Moses’ mom–“Look at you, you put a baby . . . in a basket.” It’s like, “Ma’am, what made you think that was a good idea?”
But after almost 2,555 days of this mom gig, I’m starting to understand where Jochebed was coming from.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Moses’ mom loved him with all of her heart. She wanted what was best for him, and she was ready to do everything in her power to protect him, even if it meant hiding him in reeds along the bank of the Nile.
I can’t imagine the fear she must have felt, knowing her son’s life was at stake, but I do understand the stress of trying to do the right thing when the outcome isn’t exactly clear.
As parents, we often live in the land of uncertainty. My friends and I seem to be in a period of parenting where we’re faced with some big questions every day. Questions like Which school should we choose? Does she need a tutor? Should he see a psychologist? These are big, important questions, none of which can be taken lightly.
One decision Alex and I are struggling with right now is whether or not to hold Reeves back. To be honest, this is a question I’ve debated ever since he was born on August 22, so close to the September cut-off date. There are so many things to think about . . . I worry holding him back could negatively affect his self-confidence. I worry that because of his size, he’ll stand out like Gulliver in the land of the Lilliputians. I worry we’ll hold him back unnecessarily, and then he’ll get bored academically. Sometimes, I go way off the deep end and worry this one decision could make or break his entire school career.
It’s so easy to overthink each situation and get caught up in the “what-ifs.” But imagine if Jochebed had done that. If she had spent too much time going back and forth, debating the pros and cons of her options, Pharaoh’s men would have been at her door, and Moses’ fate would have been sealed. Ultimately, she had to make a choice and have faith in her plan. At some point, we, too, have to make the best decisions we can with the information we’ve been given and then let them float on down the river.
Most days, I feel like for every good parenting decision I make, I probably make two bad ones, but thankfully, there’s good news. God works in every decision we make, the good ones and the bad. Even when I make a mistake, God can take my mess and turn it into a miracle. After all, being sold into slavery was what allowed Joseph to end up in the position to save his family from starvation.
Parenting is hard work, no doubt about it. As I continue to make decisions for the boys, my prayer is that my faith will overcome my fear, and like Jochebed, I’ll take comfort in knowing God is steering my boat.