The blessing of "Teenagers"

Yesterday Shyloh and Duane got into an air soft war... in my house! All of us bystanders sat back and had some really good laughs. Duane ended up being plucked in the forehead by Shyloh and she ended up with a pretty good welt on her thigh. The laughter and fun that we have is not uncommon around here, but rather a daily event in our home. As I sat watching and laughing over this I couldn't help but be reminded of the horror stories I was told by people many years ago.
Years ago when we first became parents we were told by "well meaning" people to enjoy the years that our children were little because once they became teenagers....WATCH OUT! We were warned about how awful they would be, the terrible attitudes they would have, how we would become their "enemies", and all about teenage rebellion. Boy, what a thing to tell new parents! In fact why would anyone even want to become a parent if all you have to look forward to it pain and heartache?
Fortunately Duane and I gave our lives to the Lord when Shyloh and Shelbie were only 3 1/2 and 1. The Lord was very gracious to show us in His word and through other ways that He didn't intend for our children to grow up the way we were warned they would. In fact the dreaded word "TEENAGER" isn't even in the Bible! I actually can't stand that word as our society has used it with such negativity.
We now have 2 "young adults" in our home with many more coming up after them and we couldn't be more blessed. We have tried our best to be sensitive to the Lord's leading in our lives as parents and teach and train them in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6) We have tried to guard and protect them in the areas the Lord has shown us. In many things we have gone against the "normal", even what the church sees as normal, and have even taken some slack from people for doing so. We have struggled over what we should allow into their lives and not allow. Parenting is such a journey, but the rewards are so worth it! We are not through with this journey and have many, many more years to go, but we have learned to continually trust the Lord and follow His leading in our children's lives.
I am so thankful that we didn't listen to all those "well meaning" people 17 years ago, we may very well not have all the children we do today. Instead we have chosen to walk in faith and believe His promises concerning our children. With each sweet baby we welcome into our arms we know that this precious little one will one day become a wonderful young adult in our home, bringing more fun and laughter. We are so blessed to be at this stage with our older girls were they are now becoming our friends. We still teach and train, but now we are also walking "beside" them as the Lord is doing the guiding in their lives. What a joy to watch them coming out from under the "umbrella" of our relationship with the Lord and into their own relationship with Him. It blesses my heart to sit up and have late night chats where I hear about what the Lord is telling them. 17 years ago I was so scared to get to this point with my children, today I look forward to all the other children reaching this point!
Children are a blessing from the Lord...blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127:3,5

The picture is of Shyloh (4 yrs.) and Shelbie (18 months) Time sure goes by quickly!