Life Lessons
by Mary Alice Kenley
We’ve just passed another Mother's Day in our country. My family scored big—no surprise there—including Awesome Wonderful (Bob), even though he’s the hubby and not the son. We were traveling, so we didn’t get to see our sons and their families, but we heard from both, and both had their usual humorous Facebook messages. In the long drive on Sunday, we talked about the way we raised our guys, and the fact that God was gracious with us and them. They certainly have had their share of bumps and scrapes, just like everyone else. Occasionally something would come up in their lives that needed intervention; we chose not to render aid. Now, I have to admit, it was easier for Awesome Wonderful to say, “Let’s just let them figure this out with God’s help.” It was tough for me to not write that check or step in somehow to make things better. It never failed, however, that in these times of personal struggle, God stepped forward with wisdom to navigate these tough situations. I ask myself what would have happened if we’d stepped in. I have said before that the difference in God’s parenting style and that of humans is that, while we work to bring our children to a place of relative independence, God’s style is to make us increasingly dependent on Him. If we step in every time our children are in a tight spot, that opportunity to turn to God is missed. I challenge you to sit back on your prayer bones and pray for those you love when they are in times of trial. You’ll be fostering that dependence the Father loves so much in His children.
“My salvation and my glory rest on God; the rock of my strength,
my refuge is in God.” Psalm 62:7
