It's NOT a train....AND the engineer is still in control!

I'm sure I've written before about the tunnel and the train. It was worse when I used to have a much more stressful job. Trying to be the ever optimist, I would proclaim, "There's a light at the end of the tunnel!" Then, the sometimes not so smaller voice of the pessimistic side (NO, I do not have multiple personalities even if it sounds like it!, smile) would continue after a slight pause...."yeah, it's a train!"

I'm reading a book entitled, Aaron's way, the journey of a strong-willed child, by Kendra Smiley with Aaron Smiley. Aside from loving their last name it has also been a really helpful book to read. It is a story of her son, Aaron, and the discoveries/roadblocks that she discovered and faced while raising their strong willed son. The interesting part is that Aaron is now grown up and not too far removed from those times of strong willed growing up years to give his insight as well. Aaahhh! A look into the mind of the kid. HELPFUL!

I have at least one strong willed child (and occasionally, still, a strong willed husband) who see life very black and white with very little to no shades of gray. I have discovered that they are out to control their destinies in a sometimes out of control world and the variable personalities they come in contact with. This insight alone is worth reading the book.

There are quotes throughout the book too and I REALLY enjoyed this one and wanted to share it and it ties into the tunnel/train:

"When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not, you sit still and trust the engineer to get you through" Corrie Ten Boom

The Bible talks about trust too.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowlege him, and he will make your paths straight.

1 Chronicles 5:20 (NIV) They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

Raising our kids today (and sometimes still feeling like we're growing up ourselves) is a battle worth fighting! We don't go through the tunnel alone. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.... God's care and protection!