Understanding Our Children's Struggles ~ Part Two

  

I told you that the Lord had used the writing of my daughter and a quote from a book I am reading to bring home once again the need to see through my children's eyes the very heart of their struggles...to not trivialize them and brush them off because they may not seem as "important" as the cares of the adult world.  If you have not already, you can read part one of this post here.  The following is the writing of my oldest daughter.  This was not an assignment, just an impromptu writing from her heart.  As parents, we should never underestimate the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our children. 

   "I sat at the table, my dinner in front of me, my family talking around me but I wasn't listening.  I was in a world of my own thinking about the Narnia books.  Not in an ordinary, "those would be nice to read again" way, but with a desire...a longing for something...a daydream of reading the books with an innocent childish mind.  To make Narnia come alive in my imagination...to make it real in my play.  I wish to remember every detail and to keep it and incorporate it into my daily life, to devour it and to become again like a rather immature child again.
     For a few delicious moments I was lost with the magnitude of that thought.  That feeling that engulfed me.  But, like a light that filters through into a dark chamber bringing momentary pain to the eyes, so the Holy Spirit's light brought pain into my soul, telling me to remove these thoughts from my mind.  I brought selfish pain into my heart.  No, not my pleasant daydream, my mind cried out!  All of this transpired within a few seconds and then and only then did I realize what I was doing.  I was putting Narnia up as a stronghold against the discomforts of life.  I needed to face my spiritual battles instead of running.  I needed to confess, obey and accept forgiveness.  Whatever I might do, I knew with assurity that no matter how hard it would be to tear myself away from sin, it was a must.  It was a command.  So, I began to give in to the will of God.  Not that is wasn't difficult, but with the assurity of peace and blessing from God.
    I was tempted with Narnia, to think of it too highly, but I was tempted with other things before. To escape, to hide, but I cannot hide from God. Whatever I am going through spiritually if I try to run from it, it is impossible. God knows my heart, He will not be fooled with my attempts to hide from spiritual responsibility.
      I have been tempted with things like I was with Narnia, I am a slow learner. I fell before, I am imperfect, I will fall again. But I have hope, and I have strength through Him.
   So my dear friend I need to ask you, are you hiding behind something? Something that may be beneficial or good if used in a moderate way? Are you running from accountability from God? Do you need to confess, obey, and accept forgiveness? If so, don't hide. Face any sin or difficulty with GOD's help. You will find peace, joy ,and blessings like streams of water on your thirsty soul. Give yourself up to His will. You will find that it will work out for good. I didn't say it, He did. Trust HIM, HE Knows.

" And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them that are called according to HIS purpose."

                                                                            Romans 8:28" ~written by Joy at 14

God used this to show me that my children struggle with the same issues I do...just on a different level.  But the sin is still the same.  How often have I tried to "escape" from the realities of life?  Not in a childlike fantasy, but by "vegging" out with a DVD, indulging in food when I shouldn't, or buying that item I don't really need just because it gives me a lift?  When all the while, I should have been sitting at the feet of Christ being refreshed and washed in the Word.  No, my friends, let us not underestimate the struggles of our children.  God may just be using some of them to show us areas we need to work on...if we see with eyes open to His leading. 

The next morning after reading my daughter's writing, this is the quote I read.

"Our children have more right to expect that we shall be model parents than we have to require that they shall be model children.  Their temptations are as severe for them as ours are for us.  We are apt to think their burdens light, because upon our mature minds they would press with but little weight.  And thus most erroneously we excuse ourselves for defect which we censure severely in them."  ~The Mother at Home by John S.C. Abbott

May the Lord give you grace to see with His eyes the cares of your children.  God bless!