Food Glorious Food--Part Two

     Years ago when our daughter and son were young, my wife and I were discussing a parenting concern and she asked, "How do we know if we're making the right decision?"
      I answered, "We don't now, but will when they're 18 or so."
     As parents we insured that they had their immunizations, ate balanced meals, studied and played.  And we prayed.  A lot.  Every day.  We prayed for the wisdom to recognize where their God-given abilities lay.  We recognized that even though their cells contained some of our DNA they weren't really "ours" but rather were God's.  The word our indicates possession; possession indicates control.  Parents aren't called to control their children, but rather to shepherd them.
     Shepherds, abiding by their flocks at night, are apropos during this Christmas season.  They protected their flocks from external dangers.  They insured that they ate appropriate foods and drank safe water and had enough rest.  They did this by leading and not by pushing or pulling.
     When our daughter was enrolling in college there were a series of activities and seminars for the parents.  The dean gave us the wise advice that in conversations with our freshman we replace the verbs  must, should, need to, have to, and can't with ones like might and consider.  A shepherd knows that these are better words to use as our children transition into our peers.

                    

 
     So what is the connection to food?  Our son has resumed eating like a normal teenager because he has decided to stop wrestling.  Gone is a 4 inch piece of celery for dinner and in its place is an 8 piece serving of boneless wings and potato wedges covered with cheese.  Gone is the starving, dehydrated, cranky 130lb-er.  The contented 145lb-er has returned.  Food glorious food!
     Dale and I are disappointed that he won't be competing in a winter sport--the first time since the fourth grade that we won't be sitting in a bleacher watching him--but we couldn't be prouder.  He assessed his situation, thought about his options, and prayed for wisdom.  He then articulated the reasons behind his thinking; no more "I just want to."  He went to practice and practiced with the intensity that his coach valued enough to name him one of the co-captains at the start of the season.  Last he looked his coach in the eye and explained that he could no longer compete for the team.
 
                               



                            2010 Season Record at 130 lbs:   5-3 with 4 pins, 27 total points

 

                                                               Way to go, Dano!