| Colossians 3:23 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” |
A couple of weeks ago, Mary Linda and I took our grandson to the Dallas World Aquarium. It is much more than fish tanks. It is part zoo. Crocodiles, exotic birds, a harpy eagle, monkeys, flamingos. There is a glass tunnel through a shark tank. Hammerheads, sawtooth, gray sharks swimming beside and above your head. And frogs and snakes.
We were waiting to get on the elevator to go up to the main floor. A young-ish dad got on first with a 1-2 year old girl in a stroller and a boy about 4-5. As we walked on, his daughter in the stroller was having a meltdown. She balled up her fist, cocked it back, and let it fly at her brother, who ducked out of range. Good thing she was confined in her quarters on wheels, or she would have chased him between all of our legs. I guessed at what was going on. He had pushed the elevator floor selector button before she could, and she was not happy. I can see why those moments got labeled as “meltdowns”. She did just that. She sure was mad.
It would be easy for me to say “if that was my child, I would”, but I don’t. I felt bad for that dad. All of us riding in the car (four outside of he and his two) were subjected to her screams, tears, and rage. He wheeled her off when we arrived at our destination, just like nothing had happened. Good move, I thought. She will live.
A few days later, I watched another child have a meltdown. It happens. Disappointment causes it usually. We expect, we don’t get, we feel the sting that it brings. It bites us. I spent many years barely able to carry on a conversation at church because I was always refereeing a fight between two of our boys (always the same two). They will remain nameless. I got good at the part where I separate the boxers.
Once we took a bike ride around White Rock Lake. At least we began a ride. It ended shortly after it began. Two of our sons could not figure out who would get to lead the pack that was our family of five bikes. So, we called it off and went home. That was no small feat to pack all of our bikes into the back of a Dodge Dakota pickup. So, I am not claiming to have all the parenting answers or the dad of the year award in my pocket. I did my best. And I don’t like to give unsolicited advice to other dads.
One time when I was leaving our church, one of our minister’s daughter tackled her brother in the hallway to teach him something. I have learned not to mess with the fairer sex. They can throw a mean punch. Actually it did my heart good to see that everyone has children who don’t always act perfectly. I heard this once: “You don’t have to be a perfect person to be a perfect parent.” Try loving them to the best of your ability. That works wonders.
Father in heaven, thank You for loving us so much, for being our Father, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
-Jeff Beall
