Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 2:02am
You're out!
Holding her windswept hair out of her eyes with one hand made clapping for her son's baseball team difficult, if not impossible. Still, Betty wanted to applaud Adam's teammates for their effort. Certainly, Adam's team wasn't tops in terms of skill. But this season Betty didn't really care.
All Betty wanted was for Adam to get the chance to play in the infield and make an occasional hit. Ever since Betty's husband left the city and their marriage 10 months earlier, Betty had tried to take on both roles of mom and dad. Being mom was tough enough, but taking up the slack Betty inherited by her ex-husband left this newly single mom feeling inadequate and angry.
It had been difficult during the winter months, keeping Adam busy. Normally, his father would have taken him ice skating or sledding in the afternoons. With Betty increasing her own work hours, she didn't have any reserve energy left to simply "play" in the evenings. Betty thought it a great accomplishment to prepare a healthy meal, throw in a load of wash, and oversee Adam's homework. Play? Betty didn't think so.
Then the dreaded sign-up day arrived, and Betty dutifully arrived at the school with Adam in tow. They fumbled through the Little League forms and Betty's emotions slumped once they closed the car doors. Adam, too, was feeling hesitant. Betty could tell by the way Adam kept asking her how he was going to learn to catch more consistently without Dad around. Then Adam reminded his mom that Dad promised he'd practice with him every day this season so Adam could make it to one of the prized infield positions.
With no ready answer for her hurting son, Betty prayed. The next day after work Betty threw on some grilled cheese sandwiches and together they ate a hurried dinner. Then mother and son went to the park and spent the next hour hitting balls and catching pop flies. Always, Betty came home sore and exhausted. Adam, however, was delighted. After three weeks of consistent practice, Betty had to admit that Adam was improving. Most important, Betty observed her once defeated son blossom again.
Several months later, on that blustery late spring afternoon, Betty sat watching Adam play ball ... on second base. He was steadily improving under the more competent expertise of his baseball coach and with the help of batting cages. Betty didn't mind the wind or the sun. Today she was just grateful to have had a part in seeing her son reach one of his goals.
"For Thou dost light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall."
(Psalm 18:28, 29)
— — —
Dear Lord,
Today I recognized just how inadequate I am to mother my own children. I felt the weakness and lack of skill I possess to help my kids succeed. I don't know where to turn for help. I'm bewildered and overcome by all the responsibilities I have to manage. I'm not even sure how to run my own life, let alone give the direction and input into my children's. Show me, Lord, your way, your paths. Give me the insight I require to be everything my family needs me to be. You alone know my utter weakness and dependence upon you. Hold me up in your strong arms; please carry me through today.
I understand that I must not give way to fear. But there are times when the smallest tasks leave me breathless. How does one person take on the role of both mothering and fathering? Still harder, how can I impart to my children all the skills and abilities that their father possessed? Oh, how I depended upon my husband in so many ways. Now I must learn to depend upon you. Father, this job is too big for me. I need you to instruct me. I hunger for your presence to comfort me as I try to give of myself this day. Without your grace, your continual love, I am nothing. I am less than nothing. For the sake of your good name, please send me what I need this day to bring glory to you. Make me a help to my children.
Amen.
— — —
"God has me right where he wants me! As I move out of darkness, I'm learning to live a life of reliance on God."
— Cecil Murphey in "Seeking God's Hidden Face"
— — —
Michele Howe also writes a women's lifestyle column, "Embracing Life's Curves," which is offered through the Syndicated Writers of America. Visit the BuyStory website to see additional commentary. Her email address is {email jhowe@toast.net}jhowe@toast.net{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Michele Howe.
All Betty wanted was for Adam to get the chance to play in the infield and make an occasional hit. Ever since Betty's husband left the city and their marriage 10 months earlier, Betty had tried to take on both roles of mom and dad. Being mom was tough enough, but taking up the slack Betty inherited by her ex-husband left this newly single mom feeling inadequate and angry.
It had been difficult during the winter months, keeping Adam busy. Normally, his father would have taken him ice skating or sledding in the afternoons. With Betty increasing her own work hours, she didn't have any reserve energy left to simply "play" in the evenings. Betty thought it a great accomplishment to prepare a healthy meal, throw in a load of wash, and oversee Adam's homework. Play? Betty didn't think so.
Then the dreaded sign-up day arrived, and Betty dutifully arrived at the school with Adam in tow. They fumbled through the Little League forms and Betty's emotions slumped once they closed the car doors. Adam, too, was feeling hesitant. Betty could tell by the way Adam kept asking her how he was going to learn to catch more consistently without Dad around. Then Adam reminded his mom that Dad promised he'd practice with him every day this season so Adam could make it to one of the prized infield positions.
With no ready answer for her hurting son, Betty prayed. The next day after work Betty threw on some grilled cheese sandwiches and together they ate a hurried dinner. Then mother and son went to the park and spent the next hour hitting balls and catching pop flies. Always, Betty came home sore and exhausted. Adam, however, was delighted. After three weeks of consistent practice, Betty had to admit that Adam was improving. Most important, Betty observed her once defeated son blossom again.
Several months later, on that blustery late spring afternoon, Betty sat watching Adam play ball ... on second base. He was steadily improving under the more competent expertise of his baseball coach and with the help of batting cages. Betty didn't mind the wind or the sun. Today she was just grateful to have had a part in seeing her son reach one of his goals.
"For Thou dost light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall."
(Psalm 18:28, 29)
— — —
Dear Lord,
Today I recognized just how inadequate I am to mother my own children. I felt the weakness and lack of skill I possess to help my kids succeed. I don't know where to turn for help. I'm bewildered and overcome by all the responsibilities I have to manage. I'm not even sure how to run my own life, let alone give the direction and input into my children's. Show me, Lord, your way, your paths. Give me the insight I require to be everything my family needs me to be. You alone know my utter weakness and dependence upon you. Hold me up in your strong arms; please carry me through today.
I understand that I must not give way to fear. But there are times when the smallest tasks leave me breathless. How does one person take on the role of both mothering and fathering? Still harder, how can I impart to my children all the skills and abilities that their father possessed? Oh, how I depended upon my husband in so many ways. Now I must learn to depend upon you. Father, this job is too big for me. I need you to instruct me. I hunger for your presence to comfort me as I try to give of myself this day. Without your grace, your continual love, I am nothing. I am less than nothing. For the sake of your good name, please send me what I need this day to bring glory to you. Make me a help to my children.
Amen.
— — —
"God has me right where he wants me! As I move out of darkness, I'm learning to live a life of reliance on God."
— Cecil Murphey in "Seeking God's Hidden Face"
— — —
Michele Howe also writes a women's lifestyle column, "Embracing Life's Curves," which is offered through the Syndicated Writers of America. Visit the BuyStory website to see additional commentary. Her email address is {email jhowe@toast.net}jhowe@toast.net{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Michele Howe.