Titanic Mothering

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Model of the Titanic Scale 1:48
 Took 3 years to build the full size ship
 and 7 years to do the model.

A  Mother's Day Sunday afternoon with no agenda---- 

unusual in this household, but welcome. 

A time to catch up a bit with three daughters by phone

 and hop on the Metro to downtown DC.  

Off to see the exhibit at the National Geographic

 of the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic.

Can see the Life boats and read about how they never thought
 to have enough for all the passengers- the unthinkable could never happen.

Passengers paid more attention to the lounge chairs
 on the promenade than the life boats nearby.

Photo from the send off---- a really BIG deal.

Setting sail from Queenstown- Cobh, Ireland- April 11, 1912

What could be the teachable moments for mothering from the Titanic?  

Seeing the photos and history certainly made me aware 

that the whole energy of the building, the preparing, 

the shaping was mostly for "smooth sailing". 

There were the precautions for the doors, and dockets

 that would close to stave off flooding.  

There was the installation of the Marconi room- 

the height of  long distance communication at the time...  and yet.......

I visited Queenstown- Cobh, Ireland in 2000- 

and the story of the Titanic still looms over this city

 as their claim to fame.

 The last place the people saw in a world where "all was right."

How many of our hours and days are spent with our children 

trying to keep the ship from sinking,

 the horizon of destination in sight, 

and living as all is right in the world?

Only in crisis mode do we allow ourselves to talk about the what ifs,

 that the unthinkable lurks nearby 

and the sense of loss as part of our own family and not just others.

 The disservice to our children is that when the waves comes, and they do,

 or when the ship takes on water, 

they often look everywhere for the lifeboats,

 and do not see the life preserver around their necks.

Titanic mothering looks at each day as a gift. 

This stance enjoys the precious quality of a day unfolding 

and yet is not afraid of talking about storms and waves and shipwrecks. 

In the early years, when our girls were young,

 they were often fearful of "what if you die" futures.  

And in those moments we always reassured them- that is NOT the end. 

We are living our eternal life NOW.

 We live the days here on earth or in heaven. 

Eternity has already begun.

As Jesus told the disciples- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Titanic mothering is speaking about the Trouble 

that comes to our lives- sickness, natural disasters, 

and disappointments of all losses.  

But, it is also stepping out each day with peace on the horizon, 

and a view of the lifeboats along the edge and speaking the truth.

This is where you go when the waves get BIG.  

This is how you get in a life boat.

 This is how you gather those you love close by and safely. 

Daily life is not about avoiding the challenging surf, 

but knowing how to get in a life boat. 

It is about TAKING HEART! 

That means hanging onto the LIFE PRESERVER of JESUS. 

It is about rejoicing with the one who calms the waves

 and letting our children know, we know.

  We  live each day KNOWING Jesus

 has overcome the World.

And that leaves us with a peace

 that passes all understanding..... Thank you, Lord.