Parenting Journey

The Journey metaphor is one of movement, pauses, vistas, companionship, and adventure. The journey is sometimes called a pilgrimage, a sojourn or an odyssey. Words that convey a sense of the unknown ahead.

Journey in contrast with a trip does not go and come back, like a trip from Miami to Fort Lauderdale. A journey often has no clear destination and may be filled with surprising turns.

Biblical Metaphor

A Journey Metaphor is not just a made up idea. Think about all the journeys in the Bible.

Abraham sojourned in the land of promise before going down into Egypt for 400 years.

Moses sojourned in the desert for forty years.

Paul went on missionary journeys for three and four years at a time.

Jesus life on earth can be thought of as a journey. The disciples of Jesus were with him on His earthly journey as He called to them, “follow me”!

Could the disciples imagine that day all the things that lay before them as they followed Jesus?

Parenting

Parents encounter this journey metaphor concept when a child is placed in their care. There is no manual, instruction booklet, or map to follow. Life unfolds.

Having a Guide and Guidebook to consult on a long journey is essential. Jesus often went to the hills to commune with His Heavenly Father.

Even a long arduous journey can be traveled confidently when God is leading the way.

His Word can become our Guidebook. The Holy Spirit our Guide. The church and community become our traveling companions on our life Journey.

Special Needs

Whenever the journey becomes especially difficult we need one another even more. Traveling the long, bumpy roads we often become lost, disoriented or overwhelmed. Travel companions can point the way, encourage, or lead us out of the dead ends.

Inspiration, being reminded of our purpose, looking to those who have gone before us, consulting the Guide and Guidebook can renew our hope and refresh our spirit and lead us onward moving us forward again.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27

Helpful Links:

Now that school is way past the starting point, parents may be asking for help with either new or continuing signs of struggles with their child who has LD or ADHD. Hear are some excellent resources:

Understood.org

Chadd.org

LDA.org

NILD.org

Take some time to look and join to learn tried and true ways to support your child.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” ~ Proverbs 22:6