I love Merle's old Country anthem, Mama Tried.  

Last week Matt took me to Vegas to see Garth Brooks in concert.   Now Haggard and Jones were two of Garth's Daddy's favorite singers, so their themes and styles were part of his earliest inspiration.  And when he belted out Mama Tried, for the sweet pleasure of the old-school country lovers in the theatre, you can bet I sang along.

The first thing I remember knowing,

Was a lonesome whistle blowing,

And a young un's dream of growing up to ride;

On a freight train leaving town,

Not knowing where I'm bound,

No-one could change my mind but Mama tried.

One and only rebel child,

From a family, meek and mild:

My Mama seemed to know what lay in store.

Despite all my Sunday learning,

Towards the bad, I kept on turning.

'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore.

And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole.

No-one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried.

Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied.

That leaves only me to blame 'cos Mama tried.

Truth be told it's a heartache of a song for us Mamas who are currently trying in the trenches with this generation of boys who long to ride their own metaphorical bulls today.  And as I read these lines I think of the fears we parents could indulge in.  But there's one story about the most perfect parent, that I always come back to when I start fearing that my children's futures are all up to me.

Adam and Eve.  They had God Himself for their Father; encouraging them, giving them pleasures galore, and setting one simple life-giving boundary for them.  "And He walked with (them) and He talked with (them)... and still they went their own way.  And the consequences were comparable to turing "21 in prison."

There are wonderful families throughout the world who have raised their children right, only to have their young 'uns use their freewill to disobey and go their own way.  I can't imagine the pain of that, from where I currently sit with little ones still contained at home.  But I know it happens, and I know it breaks a Mother's heart when it does.  

Now truth be told, I went my own way for a number of years.  Always believing in God, but not living with hope in HIs Presence, and definitely not obeying and delighting in my Heavenly Father.  But His consequences don't sever His love for us.  He continues to pursue his children with the truth of His redeeming love.  

Let's take some pointers from the most wonderful parent of all.  Let us walk with them and talk with them continually about what is true and right and noble.  And if one day they go astray, let us never give up on them.  Chase them down with our prayers, we must!  Chase them down with our love and words of truth and life.  

Because Mamas don't stop trying.  We don't, do we?