Pain Point

As a parent, I try to stay out of the school playground dynamics. As one who received more than his fair share of teasing on the recess yard, I have come to appreciate my parents’ coaching to me and how that experience built my character. However, after a few weeks of teary homecomings from one of my daughters and hearing some of the details, I felt as if I needed to send an email to the teacher. We are blessed with excellent teachers and the response was what I would’ve hoped. My daughter’s response to learning of my email was less than positive. "I didn’t want you to get involved!" she yelled. I reminded her of the weeks of tears and asked her if she wanted things to remain that way. "Well at least I know what’s it’s like! I have no idea what’s going to happen now!"

As I tried to assure my daughter, and myself, that my intervention would yield a positive result, I couldn’t help but wonder how often I embrace the same mentality as my daughter. How often do I consciously or unconsciously choose to remain in my suffering because it is familiar, because I know what to expect? Does the unknown price of trying to make something better frighten me into complacency? In my walk of faith, is it really that I don’t know what the next step is, or am I afraid of what going further might require? Suffering is inevitable in life. Growing from it and giving it purpose is a choice. What choice will we make with this week’s crosses? Prayers that you make the grade!