How do you shield your children from getting hurt? From all the pain or trials that are to come their ways?
The other night, my son and his tennis team had their dinner after the matches were over. I didn’t go same with his dad as my husband had been so tired, having a special operation at his work these past few days. We wanted him to enjoy his time with his friends and the team so we told him he could go. He was excited.
Not the same expression when I was picking him up. He was quiet and looked visibly with a combo of “being hurt and upset.”
I hugged him when we got home. A nudge through this act to make him vent out. He sensed it.
Tears started staining his cheeks and softly he whispered to me, “Mom, how could my name be missed? Every one was up there already as their names and certificates were given except for me. When the coach said that those players were the team, I had to raise my hand as my friends were looking at my direction, too, wondering why I wasn’t called.”
“And?”
“He apologized and called me after I raised my hand. But I felt so left out. I guess I was just wondering how I could be forgotten when I was visibly there.”
I joined his tears with mine, consoling his wounded heart. I had no words at that moment but wanted to let his heart be poured out. Only then I knew that through those tears he was shedding, he would be able to release the hurt.
“This won’t be the first nor this would be the last,” I told him as I hugged him tighter.
“Maybe it wasn’t intentional. But you must learn to forgive. Through this painful situation, you would be able to see who was truly there for you or not.”
He hugged me and his father back and whispered, “I love you.” I saw a faint smile appeared.
"Don't let the spiritual enemy steal your joy," I reminded him. The more he smiled.
How do you shield your child from inevitable pain and trials of this life? How do you shield your child from all the ridicules, the rejections, from those who would want to see them hurt? I asked God that…
This was His answer:
“You can’t.”
“You just need to trust Me and pray for them. Always.”
“Isn’t that My will for all of you, My children?”
“To be prayerful. To remain joyful. And to always give thanks.”
“Remember when I also gave My own Son? So you can be saved. I have given Him up instead of shielding Him from the hurt and pain, knowing that’s the only way to restore your relationship with Me.”
Continuing to reflect, I sensed that true believers’ journeys were never known. True Christians’ lives were never remembered because the only footprints they left were not theirs. It was of God’s. They would never claim any glory but glory that belonged to God alone.
There is no option but to face the pain. There is no other way but to face any trial. That is the only way to overcome and survive. That is the only way to endure. God is the Shield. God is the protection. If we are willing broken vessels to be used for Him, we are bound to get hurt. We are bound to suffer. The way Christ did...We just need to keep walking with Him until we finish this journey and the work He started in each children’s heart.
- John 15:18-21 (NIV)
