Have you ever thought that parenting is a lot like panning for gold?
When my oldest daughter was in 1st grade we took a field trip with her class to pan or "mine" for gems. The kids wore plastic smocks and were handed a sifting screen with wooden handles. They worked diligently looking for something of value. Most of their time was spent sifting through the sediment and sand to find only a few pebbles or stones, but by the end of the field trip, many of the children came away with a few pieces of ruby, emerald or topaz! Their patience, practice and perseverance paid off!
The memory of that field trip was tucked nice and neatly away, until a recent phone conversation with a dear friend retrieved it from my memory file. We were catching up, sharing the struggles and joys of parenting. I shared with her something my oldest daughter had said, that was full of wisdom. My friend made the comment, "You have received a gold nugget!". She went on to explain, that one day her mother told her,"Parenting is just like panning for gold or gems. Most of our days are spent sifting through sediment and only to discover a few pebbles or stones. Then there are those days, when you least expect it, your child says or does something that just blesses your heart. God has just given you a gold nugget!
What perspective! I know so many parents today who have given up on panning for anything of value in their children's lives. If we are not careful we get so busy looking at the sediment, sand, pebbles and stones that we overlook the gold nuggets! In a world that demands instant gratification and quick results, parents must learn to be patient, through the practice of parenting. If we diligently persevere through the sediment, sand, pebbles and stones we will find a few gold nuggets along the way.
Keep on panning,
Renee
Great Post! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe raised 4 kids and now have 9 grand kids. I must admit it's a lot easier to find gold nuggets in my grandchildren than it was in my children :-)
Take care and have a nice day :-)
~Ron
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I seldom leave comments on blog, but I have been to this post which was recommended by my friend, lots of valuable details, thanks again.
ReplyDeletePrecious thoughts! I'll keep on panning.
ReplyDeleteI loved this! I feel like I've been sifting through a lot of sediment lately, but it's always worth it when the gold nugget appears! I'll keep being patient...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment Paula!
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