At the risk of sounding repetitive (see #6), listen to or read (depending on your learning style) the song that is my new parenting anthem.
MY LIGHTHOUSE by Rend Collective
In my wrestling and in my doubts
In my failures You won’t walk out
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh oh
You are the peace in my troubled sea
In the silence, You won’t let go
In the questions, Your truth will hold
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh oh
You are the peace in my troubled sea
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (oh oh)
I will trust the promise,
You will carry me safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore
I won’t fear what tomorrow brings
With each morning I’ll rise and sing
My God’s love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh oh
You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh oh
You are my light
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I will trust the promise,
You will carry me safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore
Fire before us, You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
Fire before us, You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
Fire before us, You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
Fire before us, You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I will trust the promise,
You will carry me safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Safe to shore
Read more: Rend Collective – My Lighthouse Lyrics | MetroLyrics
While I originally mentioned it for teens, it’s really true for all ages and stages.
I think about it when our household two-year-old throws a terrible twos tantrum about the fact you may have touched him (a.k.a., helped) him while climbing precariously on the playset when he wanted to do it ALL. BY. HIMSELF.
Melissa, be a lighthouse.
I think about it when I start getting twitchy about the decisions my teens are making.
Melissa, be a lighthouse.
I even think about it when I talk to other parents who call me and they’re already out to sea with their child.
Melissa, be a lighthouse.
As much as we wish we could be the captains, we can’t. (And, ask my husband, I want to be the captain more than any of you out there.) But we can be the lighthouse in their storm. Don’t get on their boat and in their drama. You’ll both be washed out to sea. Stand firm on your foundation and just be a lighthouse.
[bctt tweet=”As much as we wish we could be the captains, we can’t. #bealighthouse #parenting”]
