The crunch of gravel
underneath my blue Reebok walking shoes ceased suddenly, as I took in the view
from the senescent country bridge I’d been crossing. Beneath me were the angry, white waters I’d become
accustomed to seeing rush under the road; and although this vantage point was part
of my routine, my eyes fell on something I’d never seen before…a cluster of
ducks resting in the middle of the cold, turbulent water.
I
stood for a few minutes, in wonder.
Didn’t those ducks realize the precariousness
of their location?
How did they keep from being swept
away?
Why were they not above in the pond
with the other ducks?
Then,
in a moment, I’m sure I heard God’s gentle whisper within my heart, “Those ducks are like moms…moms that are
choosing to go against the flow of modern parenting philosophies and embrace
all that I’ve called them to dedicate their lives to doing. And I’m proud of them.”
Light-brown,
feathered ducks tucked in around a raging river; not simply ignoring the
current, but risking it for a greater purpose. There were other ducks that had congregated above in the
quiet, smooth waters of a pond; but my eyes were focused solely on those intrepid
ducks that had chosen the rougher waters.
As
moms, we have a choice as to which kind of “ducks” we’re going to be.
Ultimately,
we can opt for the calm, easy waters that rarely challenge the status quo and simply
parent wherever the wind blows; or we can choose the challenge of the rushing
waters where we rise to the task of training our children up in the way God and
His Word would have us do.
As
I pondered the significance of ducks in those tempestuous waters, one more
application settled softly into my heart…the ducks in the placid pond above,
although resting effortlessly, were far more susceptible to the predators and
dangers that could threaten them; as opposed to the ducks sheltered safely
because of the stormy, frigid liquid that surrounded them.
Alone, it would be foolish
to buck the raging waters of motherhood; but with God and loving, like-minded
others; it can be a rich place of safety and blessing.
Traveling
against the currents of our generation is not an easy assignment for us, as
moms; if we’ve chosen to travel the path of God’s call to fully embrace His
design for motherhood, then we’re going to face times that will find us
battling the wild waters of society.
Reflect
with me for a moment on the truths of Psalm 124 — it reminds us that surety
comes to our lives when we place ourselves safely within the care of our loving
God, not when we choose the easiest path –
“If the Lord had not been on our
side…the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters would have swept us away…Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”
I
encourage you, Mom, wherever you’re at, not to be afraid of the currents you may
face. Within those rough waters,
God will create and provide safe places for you.
When
the world calls out with the lure of pleasant ponds, where you don’t have to
battle turbulent pressures, lock your hands tight around God and His Word
because He promises to be our Guide through all the waters that life could ever
bring.
About Kristen Habermehl