My children live in such a bubble. Not exactly intentionally, but just as a result of the life we’ve chosen. Consequently, I live in one, too, with our biggest issues of the day being One of them wanting to play with Their sibling's specific toy and the other not letting it happen, or One of them cutting their lip while running laps around the garden, or “so-in-so called me a baby”. I admit, they are sheltered. What they deal with at home is so minor, and is easy to clean up and to heal from. I try to use every little instance to prep and train for the “real world”, but the dirty of the real world doesn’t brush off so easily and lately they have had a few glimpses of that.
The oldest experiencing more than once, someone not responding (or responding by turning away or walking away) when trying to talk and be friendly with them, and is left asking me ”Why ? Did I/we do something wrong??”
Or the middle child getting hit by a little child during play for no apparent reason. Still… minor stuff in the big scheme of things, but the look in their eyes, pleading to understand why someone would do that to them, is heart-breaking and enough to make me want to enclose them in their bubble even more strictly.
But that would really make me a bad mama. They cannot be sheltered from all the dirt and sin, hurt and trials of this life and I am so thankful that when they do experience these things, they come to me to talk about it. It is all an opportunity to be worked out for good. So we talk, and we pray, and we think about ‘next time.’ And of course, we go over how these experiences teach us a great deal about how we need to treat other people.
Life with kids is dirty. Life in general is filthy. I know I can’t protect them forever, even though I think that is every loving parent’s instinct. However, I don’t want to teach my children to fear pain and suffering… because every circumstance is a chance to learn, to grow, to lean on Jesus, and seek His guidance. With every little moment of trial they have at their young ages, I hope that as they run to me for comfort now, they will learn to seek refuge in Him forever.
