I find the lesson of letting go a difficult one. Really hard. In the whole Meyers Briggs personality test thingy, I'm an ISFJ, or a "Protector/Supporter." I am constantly fighting the urge to protect my kids to a fault. I think I do a decent job of encouraging them in their strengths, supporting and correcting them in their weaknesses and teaching them about serving and engaging others. (I said decent, not perfect!) But when there is a situation where another kid treats them with contempt, ignores or teases them, something grabs a hold of my heart and squeezes with all it's might. And my inner dialogue goes wild...."where do I step in and protect? Is this just part of growing up? Have I made my kids so soft they're going to get ripped apart in the 'real world?'"
I know this is all part of being a mom. I know this is a tension I will deal with till they have kids of their own. They WILL get their feelings hurt. They WILL be rejected. Life can be so cruel, but darnit, if my own heart isn't cruel in being so desperately in love with them! God help me not to break when their hearts get broken...help me to let go. And entrust them to You.
2 comments:
I know just what you mean. Daniel was emotionally bullied by a boy in his class last year. And telling him that a true friend wouldn't treat him that way never deterred him from desiring that boy's friendship. He decided to love the boy anyway and months later they really are friends. Good lesson for the mom who wanted to punt that mean little boy!
I'm glad you guys had a happy ending on that one! Good for him for being so grown up and still caring for the other kid! That's pretty cool.
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