Being Brave

When most people hear about being brave, they get certain pictures in their mind. Maybe they see themselves or others standing up for a cause or rescuing people as firefighters would or staying courageous in the midst of a tragic disease. And on and on.

I wonder, though, how many people realize that once you have children of your own, you must be forever brave. Incredibily courageous.

Oh, in all the obvious ways which probably come to mind, and yet in one other--in allowing your grown, adult children to make their own choices without feeling you must always try to talk them out of those choices.

You must be brave to let your children do what you never would have done.

You must be brave to realize your children are not you.

You must be brave to realize what did not work out for you just may work out quite well for your adult child.

You must be brave while watching your grown children flounder. You must be brave to live your life happily in God's peace even though your adult child isn't at that place yet.

You must be brave enough to have faith that they will find their own way and God will be there to pick up the pieces.

You must be brave to realize God loves your children even more than you do and only He can be with them all the time.

No matter what age your child, you must be brave. But once they fly away from the nest your bravery must kick in overtime.

Parents--some of the bravest people I know.


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In case you're wondering--everything is fine with us and Naomi. We were even quite proud of her when we took my parents to visit her today. No, this came about from something else which stirred up all the times I have had to be brave as a parent.

Just thought I'd make a note of these things while they were still fresh in my mind.


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