It should be an interesting week. One of our children is coming back home. He and his girlfriend have had a series of life gut punches and need a redo. I would like to say it was an easy decision to make because, hey, it’s your child; they are in need and you open your arms and receive them in any circumstance. However, where does that end? Where does that receptiveness become a crutch? And at what point do you just say ‘no’ and let adults learn about life and figure things out. Afterall, it’s what his mom and I did. That being said, he is our kid. Seeing him in need hurts. So, he is coming home.
As a parent you do your best to instill values and try to teach children to focus on what’s important in life, but when you see them fall flat on their face you can do one of two things. You can point out their mistakes and blame them for failure, or you can help them dust off and try again. It’s easy to do the former, especially after the dad in you has pointed at the obstacles and warned them but they still walk right toward them hitting them. But that is when the father needs to take over and emulate the true Father with love and comfort in spite of the failure.
It will be interesting to have a full house again. But to have the opportunity to help my son with his refocusing is a blessing. He could’ve turned to the world, but he turned to his dad. I just pray that his heart is turning to his Father through this because He is the only one who can truly help him. I know the times I have failed in my life the discouragement I felt. He needs family, his significant other, and he needs the Lord to bind it all together.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”” – Matthew 11:28
Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash
Moments for the Heart 