Are you longing for easier days with your teen? it get it. Many, many years ago I began my morning routine of taking my youngest daughter, Addison, on our morning run. It was extremely windy and I questioned if the weather was suitable for us to be outside. (Don’t knock us fair-weathered Arizonans. A few leaves blow and we’re running for shelter.) Once warmly dressed and covered in a snuggly blanket, she agreed to brave the wind. As we began our daily route, I quickly realized the wind was much stronger than I had originally anticipated. Luckily, whew, it was blowing at my back. The wind was incredibly strong. So strong in fact it was propelling me, Addison, and the double-wide jogging stroller forward. I was able to run with ease due to the added assistance of the wind. I thought to myself, “This is great! The wind is helping me and making my workout so much easier.”
I celebrated and enjoyed the relative ease of my workout until I rounded a corner and the wind shifted. It was now blowing straight at my face. The force of the wind seemed to have multiplied its power as it thrust against me. I pushed the stroller with all my might. I was now working incredibly hard to keep the stroller simply moving forward. Every step was a struggle and I had to consciously think about pushing against the wind. I quickly became frustrated with the extreme effort I had to exert with every movement. I couldn’t help but notice Addison had disappeared beneath her blankets, snuggling deeper into the stroller to keep the force of the wind off her face and small body. I thought to myself, “This is hard! The wind is making my walk unbearable. I’m done with this.”
Needless to say, me being the achiever that I am, I kept walking and pushing. I focused my effort and determination on completing our route. As I walked, I pondered on this experience and the power of the wind. I thought about my purpose for going on a daily run. I did it to exercise my body and grow stronger. The wind pushing against my back had propelled me forward at a quick and energizing pace. It felt like it was helping me achieve my goal. But, as I really thought about it, the wind pushing at my back, although it felt good, wasn’t helping me increase my endurance or my muscle strength. Conversely, the wind pushing against my face WAS helping me accomplish both. The force I believed was hindering my progress, which seemed so hard and debilitating, was actually helping me achieve my exercise goals. It had been challenging to recognize at first, but the message in the wind was now clear.
Life is sometimes like my run in the wind. Some of our life experiences fall into place easily and we feel as if we are walking on air. Some of our life experiences are difficult, demanding, and take all of our strength to just keep going. If we are not careful, we can confuse which of these experiences are really helping us achieve our ultimate goal. The truth is…we need both kinds of days: those where the “wind is at our back” and those where the “wind hits us head-on”. I’ve learned it’s the days when the wind is pushing against us with all its might, as if to completely hinder our forward progress, that truly give us our deepest growth, truest perspective, and richest character. And still, we wishfully desire and long for the days when the “wind is at our back”.
You’ve been called to be the mother of a teenager. You’ve been selected for this amazing and challenging responsibility. Some days will be harder than others. You may need to experience things you wish you wouldn’t. Remember the wind. Remember that sometimes the greatest growth comes from pushing against the wind, no matter how hard it blows. You can keep moving forward.
