Did you do your homework? Did you?
The reflection questions in the previous post turn your early-days-of-the-school-year attention away from your kiddo and onto you. Yes, you! Parents and guardians tend to focus heavily on our kids when something exciting is about to happen. We ask them:
- How are you feeling? Are you nervous?
- You’re a senior! What are you going to do next year?
We might forget that focusing on an anxious kiddo only increases the anxiety and pressure in your relationship. I am guilty as a mom of trying to be helpful only to become obnoxious. This is not something I intend to do, I just happen to be good at it!
It tends to lighten up your relationship with your child if you give your child a break and pose these questions to yourself.
- Am I feeling anxious? How might I manage my own anxiety?
- Life is changing for my kid. What am I going to do next year?
I suspect we direct questions to our kids and grandkids with the intention of helping them. Our questions are, as far as we can tell, indicators of how much we care. When actually, question-overload is like keeping the heat on high under a boiling pot of macaroni. It works just as well, even better, to turn the heat down.
In the Bible when life heated up, when the pressure was high, when people may have felt like an overcooked macaroni noodle, the writers offered images as encouragement. With words, they drew pictures of God:
- God holds back the waters so they do not overwhelm you. (Isaiah 43:2)
- God dries your tears and wraps you in joy. (Psalm 30:11)
- You cling to God, and God holds you with one hand. (Psalm 63:8)
- God is your forever lookout to help you when you need it. (Psalm 121:1)
To you encourage you, beloved parent or guardian, here is an image for you:
Accompanist
A parent or guardian who softly plays the chords for the child to make his or her own solo music. present in the background, the accompanist is practiced. This isn’t her or his first day on the piano. an accompanist is positioned to bring out a child’s unique and best.
I’ve not been an actual accompanist, but I know some brilliant ones. They have a remarkable way of knowing the soloist well enough to draw out his or her best sound. Once in a while, they might discreetly play an intro twice when the soloist misses the entrance. An accompanist is not a director, not the boss of the soloist, but more like a guide through the music.
Accompanists know they are not the soloists. This is not their first day. Instead, they offer steady and supportive roles to grow the confidence of the soloist.
Here is a blessing for the accompanists to send you on your way:
Accompanying is a privilege, may you sit in the Spirit’s presence as you play.
Keep your hands on the keyboard, may Christ be the director of this song.
Let the music carry, may the soloist shine with the light of Christ.
Photo by Wan San Yip on Unsplash
Lisa Lewton 