Estes Park and Revelation

We were up in Estes Park last weekend for some much needed vacation time. I took this shot as Eddie and the kids were looking out over Bierstadt Lake. I love Estes Park.

On Saturday morning, Eddie got the boys up at 5:30 am to take them fishing down at Lake Estes. I read for a while and then got ready, all while my daughter slept in. I was loving the time with my mug of coffee, journal and a quiet house. Except for the birds squawking outside the window. It wasn't a sweet chirping I was hearing. So, I took a peak out the window and was surprised to see a young Robin perched on the side of a tree, rather awkwardly. I'm pretty sure we'd seen that same one hiding under a plant the afternoon. Evidently, it hadn't quite gotten the flying thing down yet. Then as I was watching, an adult Robin came hurtling down, straight at this little one. It took one sweep past with a loud, bullying-type chirp. It flew back up and made a quick turn for another swoop. I'd never seen anything quite like it and quickly realized this was probably a parent. It didn't hurt the bird. It was trying to get it to fly.

Honestly, I was a bit offended on behalf of the little bird at first. My goodness, give the little thing a break. But soon that thought was pushed out by the realization that the Robin has to fly. If it continues to camp out under the bush we found it in yesterday, it will soon be dinner for another animal. Flying is not an optional exercise for the Robyn. It's a critical skill. The parent is simply being a good Robin parent...doing what needs to be done to help its offspring survive.

So, I started wondering what this looked like for me. As a parent, what are the critical skills I want to teach my children...the ones that impact their ultimate character development? And then I had to ask myself, how much time I spend dive-bombing my children for the non-critical. I'll be honest. Too much. I want to focus on two primary things; loving God and loving others. Like flying, there are numerous other skills they need to develop and practice to succeed in these, but that's my goal. And fortunately for me, I think it can be accomplished without dive-bombing.