A Parent's Dream

I think every parent has dreams or hopes for their children. Some parent’s hopes are more specific than others, but most have some vision of what they want for their children. I think most times those hopes are based on something that we ourselves longed for as a child, but never had. Or sometimes it is something that we cherished from our own childhood, and we want our own children to experience. Coming from a terrible childhood myself, I had so many things I wanted to make sure my children had or didn’t have. I remember thinking as a teenager that I would never allow things like divorce, alcohol, drugs, abuse, etc. to touch my own children. Back then I believed I was in control and could carve out a perfect existence for my children. Are you laughing at the teenage me yet? I am. It is true I can control my own behavior and choose to marry a good man, and as a couple we can pray and make good choices. I can even do my best to protect them from all sorts of horrible, negative things, but life is difficult, and I can’t shelter them from that. I can’t remove them from things like sickness, death, pain, disabilities, and other hardships that we all must face. I can be there to nurture and guide them. I can teach them that we have a wonderful God with a perfect plan, who loves them even more than I do, and He will be with them through the trials that they face and the choices that they make. And really it is the trials and difficult things in life that help to mold people into something extraordinary. And isn’t that every parent’s real dream- for their child to be extraordinary.

I have told you all this so you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 6-7
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4: 12-13
Originally posted April 2011