Life is Sailing

Have you ever seen your child or yourself get into a mental and emotional rut? I definitely experience this. My mind just gets wound around some problem or frustration and I seem unable to break free. One of our children is like that as well. I saw it again today. His usually bright, warm face clouded over with doubt and gloom and frustration. He felt alone and isolated, and he lashed out against one of his siblings. So, after dealing with some consequences, I told him to come on a bike ride with me. He seemed to appreciate the fact that I did not give him a choice. It made things simpler in his brain, even though he did not seem particularly happy about it. There was freedom in the communicated expectation – you´re coming with me.

His demeanor remained the same as he zoomed around and ahead of me toward my favorite spot. Once he arrived, he immediately headed in the opposite direction from where I normally go. I called him back to me, inviting him as I told him to walk with me. Without letting on that he appreciated my desire for him to be with me, he came over and started walking ahead of me. I chastened him lovingly to walk with me, side by side. He responded well, again seeming to appreciate my persistent reminder that he means so much to me that I will call him out on being distant to me. I don´t want to give up, and I will draw his attention to the way things should be so that hopefully (prayerfully) we can be close as he grows older.

It was good to get outside with him, to breathe the fresh air, see a dolphin jump, and get him to take a couple of snapshots of what he noticed in nature. But it wasn’t until we started riding home and I mentioned a swimming competition that he really perked up. You see, this kid just finished his soccer season. He thrives on being coached and coaching others. He was nominated to be the soccer captain of his amateur soccer team, and he loved it, the encourager-teacher that he is. Without that structured sport activity, I think he began to feel unmotivated and frustrated. For him, the idea of having a competition to work toward is life giving and lifts his soul.

It took a bike ride and the idea of a swim competition to pull him up out of the swampy, yucky emotions he fell into. May we all reach for an outdoor activity and something to work toward to help us get out of the muck this week.

Praying for this week.