Where to even begin with this one. Being a parent is really tough these days. The world is not what it used to be I don't believe although I know my parents suffered hardships when they were young and the entire world went through some pretty unimaginable things leading up to today's world.
I think about the wars the world suffered, the poverty, slavery, women being able to vote, prejudices, the struggle for religious freedom...so many things that lead us where we are today. Some things are so hard to explain to a child, it's hard to teach a child how to think about such things in life and then teach them how to process it, pick things apart and teach them to think for themselves.
Our now oldest child has been struggling with emotions, life lessons and how just because we feel a certain way doesn't make it true or right. As a parent I'm learning that it's my job to stay really entuned to their thoughts, no matter how big or small. I can see how they wrestle with reality and how it can beat them down. I witness how their minds get overcome with emotions and they struggle to find ways to release those emotions. I can see how they feel embarrassed sometimes by how they feel, they feel unaware at how their behavior is affected by their minds thoughts.
I know adults even struggle with these things and I also see how when these things aren't approached early on they can lead to downward spiral behaviors masking pain and confusion. Man, we as parents have a hard job or maybe it's just me at this time that feels this way. Some kids do not get hit early on with gut punch blows like grief and pain but those that do learn early on that life ain't always fun. Life is tough and it will knock you down and try to keep you there. But that's when it's our job as parents to parent their minds to think through these thoughts, emotions and start talking about them, praying about them and figuring out how to process them. It's our job to teach them how to persevere and know the truths that God says about us.
But if we as parents are lost in the same mess, it's an even tougher job to help someone else, not that it can't be done but it will take total surrender to the creator and total commitment to walking through it together.
Some days are harder than other, when you see the pain and confusion in their eyes and all you can do is speak truth to them and pray, wrap them up in your compassionate arms and just trust that God will take care of them.
Our kids were created for this time in history. They were given to us for a purpose. Our kids can and will overcome the craziness that is in this world right now because we still have the truths in which the world was started on. Don't allow the hardships to lie to your kids.
I'm praying for you friends if you are struggling with parenting a child in pain today. If you are in pain yourself, I'm praying for you. God is bigger than anything we are facing! Be a David!
Megan Taunton
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