Trials, Tribulations And Lessons Learned

My parents differed from each other on what we were allowed to do, try out, fail in.  My dad seemed to be more lenient in general, allowing each of us to do this, that, or the other thing and let us struggle, succeed or fail, and learn from it.  My mom was different in that there were many warnings and cautions, or perhaps just an outright “no!” 

I find myself more towards my mom’s side of that, than my dad’s.  Kim is more towards my dad.

I tend to worry.  A lot.  I don’t like it when the kids struggle unnecessarily.  I like it even less if they get hurt.  Yet, I do realize that it is only in the struggle, the Trial and the Tribulation, that a Lesson is Learned.  I get that.  I really do.  I just don’t like it. 

I remember Hannah and Emily going to their first concert together.  It was quite a distance away and they had to travel on an interstate to get there.  Scary!  I had them text me when they got there.  I had them text me when they left.  And, I waited up until they got home.  Same thing when they go shopping at a mall up North.  Same interstate and I have them follow the same routine.

Am I too cautious?  Perhaps.  Do I worry too much?  Yes, I already admitted that I am a worrier.

When Hannah went off to college, she started out as a Computer Design major.  That lasted one semester.  Then, she decided on Athletic Training.  That lasted two semesters.  And now, she is an Elementary Education major.  The thing is, Kim and I knew all along that she’d end up in elementary education.  We could have told her from the outset that’s where she should major because that’s where she belongs.

How did we know?

She works as a lifeguard at our community swimming pool and at that pool, she also teaches swim lessons.  Each time she comes home, there is one or two stories about this kid or that kid.  I think it’s rather telling that because parents get to select an instructor, if two instructors are giving lessons, Hannah ends up with far more kids than the other instructor by almost a four to one ratio.  Several parents have contacted her to do private lessons.  And, at least one parent asked her to teach the parent swim lessons.

But Hannah had to discover this on her own, without Kim or me telling her.  She had to discover the Trials, the Tribulations of one major, a second major, only to discover the Lesson Learned in that she is a natural, dyed in the wool, true blue, elementary teacher at heart.  Kids flock to her.  Always have, and I believe, always will.

I’ve always believed that there is a light somewhere out there in the darkness.  I’ve always believed that there is a door that we all, each of us, must walk through.  I’ve always believed that we are on this earth for at least one great purpose, and perhaps several purposes at that.

Life is a journey.  Life is one step after another.  Life is a trip over a path, a road.  And along that path, that road, there are rocks and ruts, there are hills and valleys, and there are days filled with rain as well as days filled with sunshine.  There will be smiles, as well as frowns.  There will be joy, as well as sadness.  There will be success, as well as regret. 

But in the end, it isn’t the end of life that makes the person.  It is the journey one makes to the end of life that makes the person.  It is the journey that makes the person, with all of its Trials and Tribulations and the Lessons Learned from those Trials and Tribulations.  I believe it is in this journey and in the people and experiences great and small all along that journey that help us find our purpose.  Our true purpose.

No one ever said it would be easy.  No one ever said it would be trouble free.  Only that it would be a journey.  Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!