Category: Different Thoughts

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

splashes and saviors

Posted on by Wick

It happened so fast, it was slow motion. Every split second of it still pounds fresh in my mind…

Grandpa and Grandma were visiting for the weekend, as we were celebrating our oldest daughters’ birthday. She turned five this past week (whoa.), and so we found ourselves swimming at the hotel pool where my parents were staying. Usually that means our oldest (Addie) has swimming wings, our 3 year old (Sophie) has a ring with leg-holes, and our 2 year old (Ruby) is being carried around the pool. But this time, the ring with leg-holes recently sprung a leak, and so we were using a cheap drugstore supplement. Sophie used a regular ring (no leg-holes) on Thursday and Friday without issue. Gradually as she gained confidence at staying in the ring, we gained confidence in her as well.

Then it happened. I had wandered to the other side of the pool with Ruby, Addie was doing fine with her water wings, and Sophie was on the steps with her ring around her. But Sophie has developed a dare-devil side. She wanted to “make a wave” like she’d seen daddy do earlier. Thankfully, my wife (Sarah) was heading toward the entrance to the pool at that moment, and my dad was walking near the edge by the entrance. Compiling sources, here is a brief recount of what followed..

Sophie crouched down like a frog about to leap from one of the steps, and jumped forward into the water. Her ring did not go as fast as her body, and she flipped forward in the water. I heard Sarah scream and everyone was moving quickly toward these two legs sticking out of a ring in the water. Holding Ruby close, I jumped into action, but running through 4 feet of water isn’t very quick. I yelled out to my dad, who happened to be right next to the pool where Sophie was, and he looked down, quickly knowing what to do. He grabbed her by the ankle, and hoisted our crying baby girl out of the water. She cried a minute, and was fine (more than we were) after that.

So as I offer Him this moment, how can God use this to help me grow as a parent? I realize the truth that I may not always be the “savior” for my children. I depend on other loving relationships that are close to her, to watch for when she begins to sink. I trust that others are capable of loving/caring for her in difficult moments. It won’t always be easy, but it is necessary. If I’d yelled to my dad, “Back off! I’m her father, and I will get her out of the water!!”, it may have taken too long. I pray that when the moment comes, I will be as thankful as I am from yesterday’s event…

Posted in Different Thoughts

Something Different

Posted on by Wick

I was told recently that if I wanted to publish a book, it may be helpful to have a blog where my focus is consistently flowing in the same stream as the topic of my book.  That makes sense.  So here we go: “DifferentParent.Com”

A quick introduction to me: I love Jesus.  I’m a husband, father of three girls (currently aged 2, 3, and 4), son, brother, friend, avid NHL fan, nerd, coffee connoisseur, once-a-year-kayaker (be impressed), reader, Wheel of Fortune Champion, writer, etc.  I grew up in a family that longed for God to do something new, and surrounded by people who declared God WAS offering to do something new in my life.

I believe God desires to use every aspect of life in His process of making us New Creations.  Sometimes that can be instantaneous, like the explosive charges placed on a giant cartoon mountain, that explode to reveal some awesome new image in the rock.  Parenting can definitely contain those moments!  I remember the first time we had to take one of our girls to the Emergency Room.  It was as if tiny sticks of dynamite had been placed all over my heart and mind, and they were exploding left and right, revealing the image of a loving father God was writing on my life.

(our oldest, Addie, years ago @ her first Easter)

As incredible as these moments can be, I also believe God wants to use the simple (or not-so-simple) act of parenting to transform who we are wholly.  That parenting can be every bit as important to our spiritual formation as the traditional disciplines of prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and serving others.  Which may be simply because in order to parent, we find ourselves running to these things on a regular basis!

The truth is, anyone who becomes a parent hears the words “Treasure those moments, because they go so fast.”  I don’t want to find myself in 20 years, looking back on my years as a parent of young children thinking “Man, those years flew by.”  I’d much rather look back and have one of my first thoughts be, “Wow, God really used those years to mess up my life in some great ways!”.  I believe He has, He is, and He desires to continue that work in my life.

By inviting/pursuing God in the constant act of parenting my children, I am becoming DIFFERENT.  That can hurt.  That can tickle.  That can be an amazingly new experience.  That can be macaroni and cheese getting crusty on the carpet.  I invite you to join us on our journey, and pray/believe that God can do something “New” in and through your family as well…