Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: FRAGILE (02/23/17)
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TITLE: A Praying Parent | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lisa Hudson
03/02/17 -
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“Life is fragile, handle with prayer” is written in the corner of a beautiful scenic wall hanging in a store. “So true”, I think to myself. Thoughts of a newborn baby come to mind, knowing that humans are one of the only beings in God’s creation that cannot survive on their own. Left alone, the human baby would starve or freeze to death. So precious are these little ones that many scriptures address how important children are to our Lord. “It would be better for him if a mill stone were hung around his neck, and he was thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:2 NKJV)
I find anything worth caring about is worth praying about. We love our children, and although there are volumes of ‘how to’ books on the best way to raise them, no one knows better than their Creator. His word provides instruction if we are wise and humble enough to seek it. But as every parent knows, there are times when we have to just turn our kids over to Him in prayer because we are at a loss of what to do.
When my kids were little, I prayed for healing when they were sick. When their feelings were hurt, I prayed for their comfort, and sometimes I even prayed for them to find a good friend in the neighborhood or at school. When they were disobedient, I prayed for wisdom and strength, as well as restraint so I wouldn’t nail them to the wall. Many nights I found myself praying for peace, because I was certain I was a complete failure as a mother. Without my heavenly Father to lean on, I would have given up.
Fast forward to today, and we find our daughter, who is the oldest of our three kids. She has been a challenge ever since middle school. About to turn twenty-five, she has two little boys, by two different fathers, neither of which are in the picture to help or provide support. She herself seems to have some sort of personality disorder that has made it nearly impossible for her to keep a job or a home, let alone caring for her sons. I jokingly say that every gray hair on my head has her name on it, but this struggle has been so very difficult. We want to give up, and have come close so many times. But she is and I imagine will forever be in our prayers. This is a situation that God alone will have to manage. We will continue to pray and help care for those precious grandsons, but we have laid it at our Lord’s feet.
Our oldest son is serving our country in the Navy. He has grown up to be the diplomat, I assume because he was the middle child, always having to negotiate and solve disagreements with the other two. He has had his fair share of life events to cause us to hit our knees in prayer, but overall he is a fine young man in whom we are very proud. Our youngest is about to graduate from high school, and planning to go to college in the fall. Being diagnosed with Asperger’s some time in middle school has also been cause for us to seek divine guidance in regard to him. He is highly functional in regard to the Asperger’s, but there are times when it causes him to fall into deep depression, which is regulated by prescription antidepressants. What seem to be normal social situations to us cause him to break out in a sweat. I thank God for providing a way for us to call on Him in prayer, day or night.
To us, sometimes our children’s problems seem insurmountable, but we also know how blessed we are. We know there are so many parents who have children with severe handicaps, or are dealing with drug addiction. The list of possible issues facing us all is endless. How do people make it without God? Yes, life is so very fragile. Being able to pray to a loving God and Father, knowing He sees the end of the story, and has it in His control, is cause for me to find joy in the midst of our problems, and face each new day with hope.
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