How Did We Survive?

Here’s a story that circulates often on Facebook.  It’s called “How Did We Survive?”  What is written below is basically how I lived and how Tim lived as children.  I’ve always been the chill mom that allows my kids to be kids.  I’ve always let them climb wherever they wanted, walk barefoot all through the neighborhood (or anywhere outside for that matter), climb any tree because that’s what God made them for, eat berries out the woods without washing them first, ride their bikes in the streets, build forts with whatever they can find and I even allow them to use knives and carve weapons (SEE PICTURES BELOW)..….Actually, more accurately I should say, that is how I WAS…until letting my “boy be a boy” caused a freak accident where he didn’t “survive.” I’m trying not to be cynical, but it sure is hard. Anyway, here is part of the excerpt:

“Looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have. As children we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes we had no helmets. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem.  We built forts out of branches and pieces of plywood, made trails, and fought over who got to be the Lone Ranger. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. We played dodge ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt. We played with toy guns, cowboys and Indians, army, cops and robbers, and used our fingers to simulate guns when the toy ones or the BB gun was not available.
We played king of the hill on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites and when we got hurt, mom pulled out the over the counter medicine and then we got butt-whooped. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics and then mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.  How did we survive?”

After school yesterday Kylie took a huge spill on her bike.  She tripped over Katie’s roller blades.  (Her sister pulled out in front of her unexpectedly and didn’t leave enough time to brake). Blood was everywhere.  I assessed her body, checked for any abdominal injuries, and nearly rushed her to the ER even though there were none.  Honestly, it almost put me over the edge.  I hardly slept until it was almost morning.  I checked on her every few hours.   Praise God for Scripture like Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”  I am sure it will just take time for my nerves to settle. 

Psalm 127:3 reminds me that our children are a heritage (gift) from the Lord. What I must realize is that our children are not our own any way.  We are simply stewards of them.  When our girls were babies we dedicated them back to the Lord.  We acknowledged before our Pastor and church family that it is our responsibility to cherish, nourish, and nurture our children. We do this by teaching, training, correcting, admonishing, disciplining, praying and demonstrating this in every area of our lives. All this we do from a heart that is filled with love for our children and a desire to see them fulfill their potential and serve God with their lives.

Being a steward of our children is not an easy job, but ensuring that they use their imaginations as they play and exercise their bodies is something Tim and I believe our kids need to grow up as healthy, well-rounded kids.  It is just something that requires a whole lot of prayer and faith.  To answer the question, "How Did We Survive?" I believe it is because our God is Sovereign!!  Does not He see my ways and count my every step? (Job 31:4) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13) For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all his paths. (Proverbs 5:21)

Climbing on the roots of trees

Bow and Arrow that Brandon carved while he was living

Never a dull moment with these kids around....See? They can fly!

Weeeeeee!!!!!!

Bare foot in the woods

Bare foot and beautiful

WAY too HIGH

He climbed up there to see if he could see fish he could catch

Might as well be monkies, they climb trees enough

Brandon and Katie tied a rope to the wagon to give Bella a ride

Bella wishes they weren't creative children..she hated the ride

Wiped out on the neighbor's high speed motor scooter

Katie and Brandon in their fort they built...Brandon's eating an apple...so TYPICAL of him.  He loved his apples!