Storms come and visit us now and again. They are an inescapable part of ourr lives. They may be relational or financial in nature. They may take the form of health problems. They may mean the death of a loved one. In the midst of these trials, Jesus stands by us.
More often than not, Jesus does not take away these problems. Why? Because problems and trials are opportunities for growth. Therefore, what he does is to give us the confidence to face these problems and overcome them. In doing so, Jesus brings us out of our comfort zones. He "stretches" us. And we grow.
There is a lesson for parents to be found here.
Sometimes parents shield their children from the vicissitudes of life. They are surely motivated by love. But this is misguided. For by shielding their children from whatever life may hurl at them, parents rob their children the opportunities to learn how to deal with them.
For what are parents supposed to do? Is it not to prepare their children to stand on their own one day?
That is why someone compared parenting to flying a kite. You keep the kite under your control by holding onto the string. Little by little allow the kite to go higher and farther. But at one point, you let go. You have done your part. Your children can now go on their own. And if there is anything anyone can be proud of, it is this.
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