I have been thinking on this one for a couple of weeks. The Lord has shown me many things on which to write.
I have shared about teenagers on here quite often lately.
I have shared about teenagers on here quite often lately.
I am in the middle of them, so to speak, with two in the house... the same age... living out the boy and the girl teens, so I guess I have many opportunities to do so!
That being said, the Lord continues to reveal to me how much what I teach my students daily also teaches ME.
We are going to discuss complete metamorphosis. And, yes, I wrote that. My brother will be proud.
I am sure many of you have thought of the life cycle of an insect.... OK... maybe you haven't. I truly would not think of it much except for the fact I teach it every school year and have been teaching it these past few weeks to my students!
I want to compare how complete metamorphosis and the teen years I am experiencing are similar. Bet ya didn't know you were heading into a Science lesson when you opened up this blog. Just stay with me and I pray you will learn a double portion as you continue to read....
I have not photographed insect EGGS. I am sure I have had opportunity, but never chosen to do so, I guess. Forgive me for not having an actual photograph with which to begin.
I think you get the picture, though. :)
Our little, sweet babies are born. They are born to us and begin to grow.
Now let's take a look at the second stage of complete metamorphosis: LARVA.
This is the stage they are growing constantly and eating.... a lot. We experience that in bursts in our house and I am sure others of you can say the same.
The insect larva grows out of their skin many times. They actually have larva stages where their skin is "shed" for the larger body. Our children shed their "coats" many times as they grow. Some days we feel we just bought them the clothes they have put on and are too little.
However, the Lord has caused me to probe further into this shedding of skin.
Our children are just like the larva shedding their skin in that they are also trying to figure out who they are. They are shedding their habits and ideas they had as small babies and change with each passing year. I have seen my two change right before my eyes. They are bigger versions of themselves but with more knowledge, more ideas.... changing who they are becoming.
It is so important that through these "larva" years we are feeding them from the Word of God. They need to be munching on His Words while growing physically so that they will be stronger as the skin is shed.
Next comes the PUPA stage. This is when the complete changing takes place. Insects go into the pupa stage of complete metamorphosis looking like one thing and come out looking totally different. What takes days to a few weeks for insects takes years for our children.
I have observed the changes that have taken place in the "larva stages" of my own two children and was in awe. Now that the teen years have begun, I am seeing how our children have munched their way into the pupa stage and will come out totally different.
In the pupa stage, the insect usually is quite active at first setting itself up for quietness and change. They are secured on the plant that once they were munching upon. Then, it must be still in order to change and grow. If they are not secure, they will fall and be eaten by other insects/animals.
In the teen years our children need to be secured to the "plant" of God's Word so that they may be still. They need to be still with parents.... and TALK. They need to learn how to be still still before the Lord so they can hear His voice. They must be secured in this because the world wants nothing more than to eat them up when they fall.
It is a known fact that teens require just as much sleep, if not more, than infants because their bodies are changing and growing so much. Yet, I find that so many teens are going non-stop with no chance of quietness. Spiritually, how will they allow the Lord to change them if they never secured or quiet?
I was reminded of this song when thinking of this post. It fits perfectly with this stage:
The quietness then leads to struggle. If an insect is "helped" out of its pupa stage, it dies.
The changes taking place inside my teens are amazing, too. I am watching them change physically before my very eyes. I am watching them grow spiritually.
However, I am also watching them struggle.
I remember how hard the teen years were and have made mention that I would not want to go back to them, but living them with your own children is difficult as well.
The struggles are hard to watch. There are so many times I wish I could make things easier for our two whether it deals with relationships, schoolwork, or everyday learning of WHO they are.
However, if these struggles are not experienced, our children will not grow and become stronger.
The struggle is what makes them stronger.
But during that struggle, if they are still secured to the plant on which they began the stage, and if the quietness gave them the time to be still before the Lord, they will be able to have a GLORIOUS UNFOLDING. They will become the adults that go out and begin the cycle of life again with a strong foundation of WHO they need to trust and depend upon all during their lives.
A friend from school recently reminded me that this song can be for parents going through the teen years with their children. I have loved the song greatly before she reminded me of that visual with this song. It has been a blessing to me as I have watched the struggles going on in my own two and the struggles I am also facing with them....
This same process applies to me as an adult. I may have already passed the teen years physically, but I am still in the pupa stage spiritually.
Just as we all do, I have struggles in my spiritual pupa stage. The Lord is changing me daily and the struggles are what make me stronger. I am not stronger in my own power, I am stronger because of the Lord! I will fly when I am changed completely into His new Creation.
I look forward to the day when I will be able to experience my own final GLORIOUS UNFOLDING. The day I meet my Savior face to face.
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