These poems were written when our children were 11, 12 and 14 years old. By the way, I had thought by this age that they wouldn't need Mom as much since they could fend for themselves in many ways. However, I discovered that preteens and teenagers need their parents just as much as little ones do. - Their emotional need can be even more of a challenge to meet than the physical dependence used to be. For the relationship to be good, a parent must be prepared to make a major investment - but oh, the dividends! More about this sometime elsewhere in The Parent Zone.

When I wrote this one, I was thinking of all the kids I saw in our neighborhood who were growing up with little in the way of parental guidance, and how different from man's approach the Lord's ways of childrearing were.

Childhood is the time when children will either begin to learn responsibility or move into the "leisure mentality" that motivates American society. Even with the stand our family took on work, it was difficult for our kids to move into more responsibility as they became older. They had to fight with their culture and their inclinations to do so. I am convinced if we hadn't built work into their schedules regularly, they would have had an even harder time of it.

When it was almost time for school to let out for the summer, I finally got my answer. You see, I'd asked the Lord how to conduct the summer schedule, because I didn't want a repeat of the summer before (all running and little to no quiet time). One day when I was quietly before the Lord, I was impressed with a challenge and a promise. I heard, "If you will get up at 6 a.m. (that was a challenge for sure!), I will bless your time. You will be awake, alert and very productive." I took the challenge, skeptically at first, I'll admit.

What happened? God was true to His promise. Many days I had two - two and a half hours alone. During that time I would sit on my back porch with my Bible, a devotional, my journal, and my schedule. I'd study, read, and pray. I'd journal. At times I'd walk a short distance with my journal and record what I'd see. Later the Lord would incorporate some of those things into poems. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord, and it got me through the rest of the day. -What happened when the kids went back to school? My internal clock reverted back to normal right away, and I was back to taking my quiet time later in the day when I could think!

My porch's quiet is no more; The world is pounding on my door. Six A.M. was really great; I'm sure glad I wasn't late! - I start my day in seclusion, Or risk its ending in confusion. I need to spend much time in prayer, Worship God, know that He's there; I need to know about His plans, Order my day from His commands. - By 6:40 man's work's begun; His labor puts him on the run. Instead of robin and raccoon (Who seem to like mornings in June), All I hear are man's inventions Converting man's good intentions From paper plans into matter. - Man's machines create much clatter!				My nostrils burn with diesel fuel As engines roar out by the school. The air is filled with noisy clamor; Now I think I hear a hammer! - The house they're building down the street Is tired of being incomplete. But as I write this, into view Race some rabbits - first one, then two! They romp around the neighbor's tree, Happy, lighthearted as can be. - They're not disturbed by all the noise; Neither are my sleeping boys. With sight God gives, my view adjusts; About distractions I'll not fuss. Time with God gives me perspective - For today I'll be effective. Like the rabbits and my three boys, Despite life's noise, I'll know its joys!

While work, training and discipline are a very real part of childrearing, so is nurturing. Some Christians don't value nurturing the intangibles such as imagination, fun (which is different from silliness) and childlike spontanaety. I believe this wrong.

Many years ago in a church I heard that daydreaming was sin. Yet our children could be very imaginative, and I even had a dreamer. This encouraged me to reexamine this teaching. The results were important since I would be either discouraging or encouraging our children in this area, depending on my conclusions. Needless to say, I prayed for God's view on the subject. The results? I've discovered that though there is idle daydreaming and destructive fantasy, there's also creative, sanctified, godly imagination.

Imagination is very powerful. I won't deny that ungodly imagination unleashes all sorts of evil, but at the same time, godly imagination has given us all kinds of good things: for example, books that have made spiritual warfare (something we can't usually detect with our five senses) and the end times more real (see authors Frank Peretti, Larry Burkett, Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins... in my Fiction Reviews), creative music and art that soothe, awaken, or inspire the spirit, or businesses, ministries, and discoveries that began from a unique, creative angle....

Godly imagination can inspire or communicate a vision or concept in many ways. For instance, this poem came into being while I was considering imagination. By the way, in accepting that inaccurate teaching, I had shut off most of my own creativity. I had to repent for denying this gift of God. Once I did, the stream, which had been shut off almost completely, began trickling, then eventually flowing. I have rediscovered for myself the joys and release in godly imagination (that's where many of my poems start). This poem is dedicated to our Lord in gratitude for that wonderful gift.

Some say dreams are a waste of time, And so's the making of a rhyme, But without imagination We've lost a key to God's creation. Creativity is God's gift - It can always give us a lift From earthly sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, Into the realm where God does dwell. God gave this gift to us for good, But we can't use it as we should Unless we've answered our Lord's call, Received redemption from man's fall.				Man can't conceive of how much sin Skewed his view when it came in. Much of TV, music, movies, art Drives God and man way apart! Our minds imagine ghastly thoughts; Fear, hate, confusion is what's wrought Within our souls, yet good seems tame; - We must fight, our minds reclaim. When we do, we'll be set free To help God make His-story And use our imaginations To help set free God's creations!

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