I once heard the story of a young boy who discovered a caterpillar. He placed it in a safe place and waited for the caterpillar to transform into a butterfly. Within a few days the worm eventually inside the cocoon took on it's form. The butterfly began to break its way through the cocoon. (If you’ve ever watched this process you know that it is always a struggle for the determined insect.) The boy looked on with compassion as the butterfly struggled to free itself. Eager to try and help, the youngster clipped away part of the cocoon with his pocket knife, hoping this would make it easier for it to break loose. The butterfly emerged, but to the boy’s disappointment it couldn’t fly. You see butterflies strengthen their wings by flapping them: penetrating their tiny bodies through the cocoon wall. The butterfly needed to face the struggle, flapping, pushing relentlessly, in order to develop it's wings to fly.
As parents, sometimes we find ourselves doing the same thing to our children. Trying to shield them from struggle and pain we limit their potential to fly high.
Let’s face it, life is full of adversity and disappointment and if you have kid's over the age of 5 you realize that they are certainly not exempt. The bible says in James “"Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I am not suggesting we invite pain into their lives, but when it does come instead of intervening hastily, we should consider how to handle it, God's way. There will be times when we must and should step in, to protect them from evil intentions and schemes of the enemy, but shielding our children from everything that does not bring them joy will only stunt the growth and development of their wings and God's purpose for their lives.
For this is what the bible refers to as “the testing of their faith” and it is a necessary part of God’s purpose for development. When we cut into the cocoon to rescue our child, we are denying them the chance to fly! Instead of interfering, learn to direct them to the ONE who will always be there to walk through those struggles with them, even when we cannot be there ourselves.
How else will they develop the skills they need to handle life’s challenges? How will they learn to trust in God to comfort and direct them?
Romans 9:17
"I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Reflection: Oh my friends I have been so guilty in this area of parenting. Who likes to watch their child being wrongfully overlooked, intentionally excluded, or purposefully targeted? Not one single mother I know!!!!! But isn’t it a fact of life that age, race, or gender will never exclude us from persecution, adversity and pain? Now is the time to teach our children how to wage war against the enemy in the spiritual realm before it’s too late and they are handicapped by our good intentions, missing the real purpose of God. When trails, disappointment, and adversity come (and they will!) join with your child and bombard heaven in agreement prayer. Be ready to see God move on your behalf and expect your child’s wings to strengthen! Oh He is an amazing God!!!!
Happy Mother's Day!
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