A Mommy Moment in a Museum
Several years ago in the fall of the year, my husband chaperoned our local FFA chapter representatives to Louisville, Kentucky for their National Conference. While there, our students visited many famous landmarks and museums including Church Hill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Upon returning Keith told of the sites he had seen and how much he wished to share it with his girls, me, Thing 1 and Thing 2. Spring Break rolled around and off we went to central Kentucky.
I gave birth to Elly May Clampett’s soul sister. Her name is Leah. She loves the smell of dirt and all things furry, so as her mother, I learned with little real knowledge, to appreciate all things equestrian and she was excited to be in the heart of thoroughbred country. As I was making my way through the museum displays dedicated to horse racing’s history, Leah called, “Mom come here and look at this.” She was at a kiosk where you could access historical races. As the film began she talked me through the techniques the jockey was using and how the horse was pacing itself as it pulled away from the pack, and of course, she acknowledged the perfect bone and muscle structure she recognized. I looked at her in stunned amazement well aware of the academic prowess she was capable of but refused to strive toward. I said, “Lucy, you’ve got some splainin’ to do.” She replied, “Mom! I read!” Indeed she did love horse books and had accumulated quite a personal library.
This child of mine walked when she was seven months old. She was born muscular, dexterous and on the go. My husband and I were investing hours and dollars in an effort to turn her into the first class athlete we thought she was meant to be and she was complying, but on that afternoon, at a race track famous for Mint Juleps and gambling, God revealed the heart of my daughter.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way she should go, And when she is old she will not depart from it.” Simply put….show your child the way to the Throne of God! IT is the way they should go! Make it your priority and it will be their’s too.
In the months following our excursion we put away the ball uniforms and bought a truck, trailer, horse and blue corduroy jacket. The rest is history as this girl now holds a degree in agriculture and works in crop research to keep the world’s food source clean and in plentiful supply.
Years later I asked Leah why she never spoke up about the sports teams we forced on her. She said she just wanted to make us happy. The truth is, SHE makes me happy…..and proud…. when she’s just her wonderful self.
Seek God’s vision for your children and direct your resources and love toward helping them become what God wants them to be. It isn’t possible to micro manage or cloister them into Holiness. God, through His Son Jesus Christ, can and He will show them what He made them to be. With great excitement they will share it with you and then there will be much peace, praising and promise as you all walk into tomorrow.
Love,
Gretchen