Have you ever noticed that children are the best question askers? They do not beat around the bush, they just ask it! Favorite question around our home..."but why?"
I simply cannot jump on the band wagon of "because I said so," especially to the "BUT WHY's?" to the serious, hard questions. Yet there are times when the WHY is just too heavy.
No doubt you have, if not you will, receive the "but why" when it comes to decisions that you make as parents that affect your family -whether it is relocating, downsizing, or a moral question where the answer is simple, but the weight of it heavy.
So recently when a decision of change came into our family and the "but why?" followed, I drew from the wisdom of another parent. Corrie Ten Boom's father, his response when she asked a question that at her tender age required too heavy an answer:
"And so seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, "Father, what is sexsin?"
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor. Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. It's too heavy," I said.
Yes," he said, "and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you." excerpt from The Hiding Place
I simply cannot jump on the band wagon of "because I said so," especially to the "BUT WHY's?" to the serious, hard questions. Yet there are times when the WHY is just too heavy.
No doubt you have, if not you will, receive the "but why" when it comes to decisions that you make as parents that affect your family -whether it is relocating, downsizing, or a moral question where the answer is simple, but the weight of it heavy.
So recently when a decision of change came into our family and the "but why?" followed, I drew from the wisdom of another parent. Corrie Ten Boom's father, his response when she asked a question that at her tender age required too heavy an answer:
"And so seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, "Father, what is sexsin?"
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor. Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. It's too heavy," I said.
Yes," he said, "and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you." excerpt from The Hiding Place
Be encouraged that when the difficult questions come, God will give you the right words. Sometimes our words may need to be few so that we do not give our children such a heavy load to carry.
Oh, and that heavy bag that you and I, as adults, try to carry...our heavenly father wants to carry that for us too!
I've read that book a couple of times, at least, but had forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Dr. LaBar!
ReplyDeleteWhat would be your top 3 books to "reread"?!
I love your wisdom...
Merissa