I love roller coasters — the twists, turns, speeds, and loops. My brother loves them too, but we react differently to the ride. I laugh through the whole thing while my brother screams —like a little girl. I got the laughing from my dad…I don’t know where my brother got the screaming. If you listened to my brother as he rides a coaster, you would think he hated roller coasters or was deathly afraid of them. But he assures me he loves them.
It is the same with my children. My husband and I take them somewhere to do something fun and they whine, complain, and fuss. But when I ask if they had fun?! They enthusiastically say, “YES!”
My heart and head are spin because I jump on their emotional roller coaster ride. I allow their wildly untrained emotions to guide mine.
Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t I know how to deal with my emotions? Shouldn’t I – with the help of God and maybe a counselor – be an example of self-control and not allowing my wild emotions to dictate the tenor of my day?
Instead I often jump on the wildly bumpy ride of young emotions – emotions that twist and turn from lack of sleep, changing hormones, and because she or he looked at me funny. My heart squeezes tight and I wonder, “Why…Why can’t they act more mature…more their age…more in control…” Then it occurs to me, I don’t act more mature, I don’t act my age, I haven’t learned self-control…
And the still small Voice whispers, “Yet…You haven’t learned self-control yet. But My Spirit will grow that fruit inside you. Just stay close to me…”
I cannot do it myself. On my own I jump onto youthful emotional roller coasters. And I don’t have fun…and if I scream it is like a crazy mommy, not a little girl…
When I cling to an unchanging God there is peace that surpasses understanding, there is laughter despite tantrums, and the fruit of self-control ripens in the presence of God.
How do you keep from jumping on emotional roller coasters?
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