Growing Pains

 

I don't recall experiencing growing pains as a child, but one of our daughters had a phase where she would complain of leg pains while in bed at night. She would often moan, "Mom, my legs are aching so bad." And I would do my best to comfort her and remind her that growing pains suggest that she is growing, so there was nothing to worry about.

As a mother, I must admit the most challenging experience was not being able to comfort my children when they experienced painful “boo-boo” moments. It's most heartbreaking to see them struggle with their own worries and problems while growing up and beginning to face the same challenges that adults often face.

Although at first, I tried to do everything in my power to protect and rescue them, I was gently reminded that these too, were growing pains. I had to learn to let go and trust that God has a plan.  

One of my favorite spiritual mothers to learn from is Jochebed of the Old Testament. When Moses was born, Jochebed did everything she could to shield and protect her baby boy.  It was a matter of life and death.  The bible says…

...she hid him three months.  But when she could no longer hide him…   (Ex.2:2-3 NKJV)

But Jochebed soon realized that in order for her son to live, she had to let him go and trust in God's plan. Shielding and hiding the baby meant that he was at risk of being discovered and killed.

The same principle applies to us even today. It is a matter of spiritual life and death for our children. We can either let them go, allow them to experience their growing pains, and trust the plan of God. As they face their own hardships and trials, they learn to activate and utilize their faith, and God will take them to a place where they will find spiritual life.

Alternatively, we can attempt to shield them from every difficulty and challenge they come across, and risk the fact that they won't learn how to do life with God, which in turn can lead to spiritual death.