When An Hour Counts
My daughter recently had minor surgery and is home convalescing. She’s still able to do things, use the computer, walk around, and drive too, but is on medication which can make her drowsy, so needs to stay indoors when she’s taken the medication and give in to it.
She wanted to go feed her horse and I was worried about her doing that. I could see she was tired and her teary response to me only proved that not all was right with her but she didn’t want to give in to it. I offered to take her there myself and wait with her whilst he ate his food and she took him back out to his paddock but she was worried because it would take an hour out of my day.
Just like my daughter to be worried about the effect on others, not the least of which was her mum. My response to her was that I’d rather spend an hour taking her to where she needed to be, than spend hours at a hospital with her because something happened whilst she was out on the road. She ended up relenting and went to have a sleep. We planned to go later in the day once she had rested. I made a mental note of what I could do to prepare for that time out and catch up with my work later.
Our children, even when they are adults, need to know that we still have time for them. We can’t live their lives for them and nor should we be in their pockets – they are adults and need to lead their own lives. But they do need to know we are there for them still, to guide, encourage, and sometimes give a push when they need it. Just as in 31:26 the Proverbs 31 Woman speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue, so must we remain vigilant in this way for our sons and daughters as they become adults and continue to lead and guide them so that they can do the same for new generations that rise.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the timely reminder that while my children are now adults and live far away in Queensland, I can still, and should, interupt their lives with encouragement and guidance to bring them closer to the Lord and to let them know that I am there for them.
July 21st, 2007 at 3:32 am
It is very difficult for a mother to just stop what she is doing when she is supposed to do just that. We seem to think we are super woman and do not need to listen, we are very stubborn. Sometimes so strong willed we forget, what the Lord wants and wishes . We must respect our Doctors, who has our best interests at heart.
I will say a prayer for you both.
Maybe if someone was to come an help with cleaning or child care, meals prepared ahead.
It is a suggestion to help throught those times.
Nancy Macdonald
http://www.preciousbabysite.com
July 25th, 2007 at 8:00 am
For six months I drove my teenage daughter back and forth to work – an hour each way, twice a day. It took four hours out of my day. I was a work at home mom at the time, with five kids younger than she, all of whom were still being homeschooled. It was necessary, and it was worth it.
No, I did not have time to do that. But I made time, because my daughter needed to earn the money to buy a car and to get insurance. The closest jobs to our remote town were an hour away. We had good time in that car, driving the long miles between. Sometimes another kid or two would come along (the rest stayed with their dad, or with their other older brothers). It was good time. I had done the same for her older brother. I’d do it again if necessary.
Admittedly, I did have some reorganization to do of our home when she finally was able to commute on her own, but that came together as it needed to also.
Conversely, when I was pregnant and on bedrest with our eighth child, I did not go ANYWHERE, nor did I drive anyone anywhere. Her needs took precedent over the other kids – and they loved her intensely partly because they sacrificed for her.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Thanks for your comments. You’re right Laura, having that special time with our children is so important and even if inconvenient with our plans, having the one-on-one when taking them somewhere really is quite bonding. One of my daughters often refers back to different times we had alone in the car when I was taking her somewhere during her teen years.
July 26th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Even though I have my own family now, my mom is still there for me whenever I need her. 🙂
May 7th, 2011 at 7:56 am
[…] Proverbs 31 Woman, an award winning writer and a successful work at home mom subitted this article: When An Hour Counts. This article is about speaking with widsom (Prov 31:26) and faithful instruction to our children, […]