Welcome 2014

“It’s going to be a great year,” according to Mr. Gavin.  He proclaimed it on January 1st and I believe it.  That’s half the battle, isn’t it?  Thinking positively.  It IS going to be a good year.  I can feel it.

I just finished reading Dr. Dobson’s The New Strong Willed Child (and oldie but a goodie).  I originally read this book because Tate is proving to be somewhat difficult.  He’s strong-willed and highly opinionated which can be a really good thing, if channeled properly.  But this passage struck me in light of Gavin’s challenges as well:  “When parents bring one of these tough youngsters into the world, they need to recognize that while raising that child may be difficult for a time, it is worth their effort to do the job right.  Their attitude should be, ‘The Lord gave me this challenging child for a purpose.  He wants me to mold and shape this youngster and prepare him or her for a life of service to Him.  And I’m up to the task.  I’m going to make it with the Lord’s help.’ That’s the healthy way of looking at parenting when the pressure is on.  There is a tendency, I think, for parents of strong-willed (or autistic) children to feel cheated and oppressed because other moms and dads seem to have smooth sailing with their children, whereas they are at war every day of the week.  But if they can perceive their task as a God-given assignment and believe He’s going to help them fulfill it, then the frustrations become more manageable.” (page 31)

It can be very easy to fall into a funk when it comes to thinking about all the challenges Gavin has yet to overcome. Challenges that pose no problem at all to the typical child.  The long road that we have yet to travel.

So my resolution this year?  To remember that God has CHOSEN me for this task.  I don’t understand why, but it is my responsibility to be up to the task.  My God is bigger than all this.

And my favorite passage from Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, when the sweet character Lucy encounters Aslan, the great lion, after being away from him for a time:

The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws.  He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue.  His warm breath came all around her.  She gazed up in the large wise face. 

“Welcome, child,” he said.

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “You’re bigger!”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”                   

 “I am not.  But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”