They say you should try walking in someone else's shoes. This is especially the case when it comes to compassion and sympathy. There are so many people that I have never walked in their shoes, including my children.
Success as a parent is elusive. It seems as if the target is always moving. At bare minimum, it's overwhelming to think about all the areas we hope to raise our children successfully.
Tools are meant to make certain tasks easier. Whether it is a hammer for driving in a nail or tweezers for getting out a splinter, tools are designed to make us more effective. Tools make tasks easier, but used incorrectly they can cause a lot of damage.
Have you ever trained for something? A test. A competition. A job. A race. I remember training for a half marathon a few years back. I was excited because my wife actually wanted to run the race also.
"Son!" My dad's voice rang out from across the yard. I knew he was calling for me to come. As I trotted toward where he was a few thoughts ran through my mind. The first was, "oh no, what did I do?". The second was, "will I get in trouble?". Finally, I thought maybe he needs help with something. As I rounded the corner of the house I immediately knew what he wanted.
"Unexpected"! That was my wife's response when I asked her how the day had gone. And what was the cause of the unexpected, unaccomplished, interrupt riddled, stress-filled day?
Preacher on the Run... 