One of the first things I learned in pastoral life is that parents always worry about their children.
Even when those children are older than me.
We’ve got a lot of families at mgpc who are traveling through demanding seasons parenting small children.
One of my aspirations for mgpc is that those parents will see us as a place of support and encouragement, not another demand and drain on their frazzled sensitivities.
Jean Williams posts a wonderful piece at The Briefing on parenting when children are chronically ill.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see it turn up in our church newsletter at some stage.
An excerpt:
What attitude shall I bring to my children’s suffering? How shall I regard it? After long weeks of sickness, I’m tempted to complain to God and give in to despair. Why me? Why another child? Wasn’t one child with a long-term illness enough? Weren’t two? (I have a third child with ongoing health issues that I haven’t written about here.) In the back of my mind, I’m thankful that God has preserved us, so far, from the terrible suffering that many parents go through – a still-born baby, a child with leukemia, a disabled teenager – but in the forefront of my mind I’m confused, lost and desolate. Yet God is teaching me and my children so many things through these afflictions.
Go and read her expanded what she’s learning:
I learn not to expect perfection.
I learn patience.
I learn to care.
I learn to pray.
I learn trust.
I can live with this uncertainty.
I learn to teach my children.
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