Parable of the Kite

March winds are here, and they are so welcomed!  I'm looking forward to bluer skies and warmer temperatures.

 

 

 Miki and Jill love flying kites, so they're loving all of this wind.  After they were done flying their kites, and Jill was in the house she was excitedly telling me how well her kite was flying.  I agreed and told her it could go even higher if she'd let some of the string out.  She was confident as she told me "I know.  But my kite's in training.  I can only let a little out until it's used to it.  Then I'll let more out."  I quickly seized my mommy moment and told her she's absolutely right.  And that's how it is with her.  As she's growing up we let out a little string at a time until she's "used to it" and we give her more.  Eventually she'll be flying high in the sky far away from us, but we will always be hanging onto the string, and if she falls or needs help we'll always be there for her.

 

 

She seemed to like the visual I gave her.  As I thought more about it, raising kids and flying kites are very similar.  Kids don't come with an instruction book, and every child is different.  Sometimes I've unknowingly given one of my children more string than I should have and they started to fall.  Just like with a kite, I tightened the string and gently pulled them back in a bit.  Eventually they were steady again, and after time they were ready for more string to be let out.  With each of these learning experiences they learn to fly higher.  Even if there are a few rips and broken tails along the way, with proper repairs they will be up and flying again.

 

There you have it.  The parable of the kite.  Without my girls teaching me, I never would've connected that one.