We value and honor the voices of parents who are head of us on the parenting journey. They have a unique Vantage Point. We asked them, “Now that your children are adults, looking back to the season most of our parents are in, what would you say to us? What do you wish someone would have said to you? What do we need to know that might save us a lot of worry or time?” In this series of posts we will hear from experienced parents. Here is what Lynn Weatherby had to say. Parenthood started with a simple prayer, which I believe now was inspired by God. It went something like this, “God give us children that we need, and help us to be the parents that our children need.”
It took years for me to recall that prayer. God answered that prayer with two amazing children created by Him and for Him. Peter and Amy are as different as night and day in personality and strengths. They are also very unique and different from both Dave and I as their parents. How can that be? Aren’t our children supposed to be somewhat like us? Dave and I are fairly easy going and compliant. Pete, our oldest spent his second month in Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of "failure to thrive." Later some learning disabilities were discovered and this presented new challenges. Our daughter, came out of the womb with a strong attitude of "I'll do it myself, thank you very much." We discovered that the gene pool is big, and God gave us the children we needed. Only continual prayer and transformation by God could help us be the parents our children needed.
Raising children is a journey of faith and commitment. Dave and I have been on this journey together as we've clung to each other and the Lord for His guidance. Each child doesn’t come with his/her own handbook, therefore, it takes time to know and understand each child who is growing, developing, and changing each month and year. What works for others, may not work for you.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”
Here is my greatest encouragement to you as parents: Don’t compare your own children to each other or with other children, and don’t compare your parenting skills with other families. Success is not defined by how we measure up to someone else. Our obedience to live out who God has called us to be, individually, is true success. I have to admit there were many years where I felt like a failure as a mother. Often, the challenges were way beyond my abilities, knowledge, and emotional energy. Dave and I sought help when we needed it, and hung onto God's promises. His transformation continues. His grace is abundant.
Lynn Weatherby grew up in Milwaukee, WI. She came to Washington, DC to work for a government agency. She met Dave soon after her arrival, and they were married a year later. They've been married 42 years and their children, Pete and Amy are in their 30's. Dave is semi-retired and Lynn is retired. They've been attending NCC Barracks Row for five years.