Signs Along the Way

This past week we took our first trip across the border to Canada. The lush green trees and rolling sprawls of land were such a pleasant change of scenery from the flatlands of southern Indiana. To try to describe the dynamic energy of Niagara Falls is useless. It is breathtaking, awe inspiring and a realization that there truly is a God who is the creator of all things great and small. We were on the Canadian side of the Falls and could vaguely see the specks of tourists on the other side of Lake Erie as they observed Niagara Falls from the US in Buffalo, NY.

North America is rich with our countries' beginnings. As Indians sought a land of their own, journeying through the northern plains, they must have been speechless as they, too, saw the magnificent Falls cascading with thunder and power. Imagine their surprise to see the mighty beasts we know as buffalo.

Peppered along Interstate 90 just over the Peace Bridge between Canada and the US, we saw several small groups of Buffalo sculptures roaming the landscape. It was a reminder, I am sure, of days gone by. Gone are the tribes, the trading posts, totem poles and the smoke signals. They have been replaced by high rise apartments, corporate buildings, churches and road signs. Many of the signs for nearby cities were Indian names such as Cheektowago, Tonawanda, and Cassadaga. One road sign pointing to a nearby town caused me to chuckle. Lackawanna it read. I said out loud to my husband and girls, That's what we have at home lackawanna. Huh? someone responded. I explained, lack-a-wanna-clean my room; lack-a-wanna go to school; lack-a-wanna obey.

After raising three independent sons who are each unique in their own personalities, I am in the process now of raising two daughters with Down syndrome. What seemed easy in parenting our sons often takes a new and creative spin with our girls. What came easy for Jesse, Jake and Joey to learn may take years for Tess and Hope to master.

One thing common to all of our children as they make progress to maturity is the universal need to want to do what is right. Just this morning, our six year old, Hope, was told not to leave the kitchen with her juice. She quietly began an exit to the stairs, hoping to do what she wanted to leave the kitchen and go downstairs. About three steps down, I warned, Hope! Come back here! Mommy said to stay in the kitchen! Obey! Make the right choice! Oh, the look she gave me. She did had that lack-a-wanna face that caused her to continue down another step. Again, I gave her the chance to make the right choice and obey her mom. It took a few moments of silence and a concentrated stare by mom for Hope to surrender her lack-a-wanna and proceed back upstairs. As she approached me, I put my arms out for a hug and embraced her. Giving her a kiss on her sweet, sticky cheek, I said, Now, isn't a hug and kiss better than time out?

I want all my children to wanna do what's right. There is a Proverb (14:12) that a wise father shares: There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to destruction. I desire for my offspring to avoid destruction and receive the blessings that come from obedience. There is a God-ordained order to obedience and that is what my husband, Andy, and I have been teaching for twenty eight years. Everyone is supposed to obey God's rules, every child is to obey their parents and teachers. That's the rule. If not obeyed, if there is a lack-a-wanna attitude, a sad consequence will follow. Always. One way or another. In fact, throughout chapter 28 in the book of Deuteronomy, you will see that there are lists of blessings for obedience and another list of curses (consequences) for disobedience to God's commands. God's Word promises blessings for obedience and curses (punishment) for disobedience. Our job as parents is to help our children outgrow their lackawanna ways and intentionally wanna do what's right.

Willing to wanna,

Nina