December 6: The Mountain Isn't Moving

December 6:

“My focus is to stay the mountain.  She is a swamp. The winds may blow, and the ground may swallow her whole, but the mountain isn’t moving.” This is the text I sent a friend the other day in reference to my 18 year old daughter.

Erika is living at home, attending community college.  For the most part, the arrangement has worked well. She likes the comfort, stability, and financial advantage of living at home; nevertheless, she tries to pull the “I’m-18” card every once in a while. 

Although she is technically an adult by legal definition, Erika is still a resident of this house, and therefore, must live within the boundaries and expectations that we have established.  Occasionally, she likes to test the boundaries, and over the weekend, she full-on rammed them.  The result was a hasty exit in which she declared that she was moving out and getting an apartment with a friend.

As she slammed the door to punctuate her point, I sank into my armchair and promptly opened up my Bible, searching the Scriptures and reading verses on parenting. I knew that she would eventually return, and I wanted to make sure that I was “on pointe” with regard to God’s expectations on parental obligation, conflict resolution, and reconciliation. 

Even though there were a couple of tense days, I can honestly say that I felt peace.  I felt God’s presence and inexplicably, I knew what I needed to do and say when Erika ultimately returned (which she did).

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:5-7). 

Since this was a new obstacle on the path of parenting, I wanted to make sure that I did things right the first time. That’s why I immediately stuck my nose in Scripture, so that God could show me what I needed to do and how I needed to do it.  That’s why I also referred to myself as a mountain in the text to my friend.  The peace I felt was firmly rooted in God’s Word.  I knew that when Erika finally returned home, He would be there with me.  He would guard my heart and mind so that anger and bitterness would not hijack my purpose.  Likewise, I knew that “The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what to say” (Luke 12:12)

And He did.  We had what we like to call a “come-to-Jesus” with our daughter at our house last night.  My husband and I were very firm and immovable.  The time for compromise had come and gone.  Even though she was less-than-thrilled with boundaries and expectations, she acquiesced. Although she would never admit it, I believe that she truly does appreciate the parameters.  They, like us as her parents, are safe and consistent. 

The same is true of our relationship with Christ. He has given us boundaries and expectations which are safe, consistent, and necessary if we are to grow into the people He wants us to be.  Christ, too, is the Mountain – uncompromising and immovable.  In a world where the winds of revised morality blow and the waves of cultural compromise toss us about, the Mountain provides the stability and strength that we need.  

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

When it was all said and done, I updated my friend with this text: “The wayward bird has returned to the nest on the side of the mountain.  This isn’t settled, but at least, she has found her way back. We are on the rebuild.” 

If God was a texter and had someone to text about us, do you suppose He would say the same?

“Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘If you return, then I will restore you-- Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.’” (Jeremiah 15:19)

“The LORD said to me: ‘What they say is good.  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account” (Deuteronomy 18:17-19).

Challenge: Send a note of appreciation. Take a few minutes out of your day today to write a note of appreciation to someone you haven’t thanked in a while – anyone whom you feel needs a bit of a pick-me-up. Once you’ve brainstormed your thoughts, write them neatly on a card you have chosen, or just send an email.