My child hit an obstacle in their path. It has provoked lots of questions with no immedite answers. Encountering these unexpected bumps is not uncommon in young adult territory. It happened to me. But this time around, it feels different-because I’m on the parenting side.
When I first heard about his situation, I did my best to remain a calming presence. In my head, I know he needs to be the one to figure out a resolution. We talked through the options. I encouraged him to have some honest conversations where necessary about his path-this one or a different one.
However, inside, my emotions were anything but calm. A detour was never in the plans we had collaborated on together. Even though he is a young adult, I still see him as my little boy. My temptation is to jump in and fix this big kid problem. Because gut reactions defy best practices.
As I pondered and prayed about the situation, God spoke over me. I didn’t get a clear answer to my questions. What did receive was the reminder of the numerous times in my life where I also encountered sudden detours. The paths that had appeared so certain presented roadblocks. Yet, somehow, in the midst of seeking direction and exploring where other paths led, I ended up in a good place. It may not have been the one originally intended and it involved some lamenting, re-evaluating my life and asking lots of questions but God never stopped actively working in my life.
In my recent conversations with my son, I recognized something-I am way more anxious about the unknown than he is. His personality plays a bit of a role but there is more going on than I first realized. This is his life to figure out. While I can share some life experience insight, He is ready to own his life. Isn’t that the point parents spend years trying to get their child to grasp?
While I confess I haven’t completely set down my worry, I also consecrate my children to God’s care. Because of that, I have to trust that he will be ok. He will find his way. Because that’s true for all of us.
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