Choosing Trust

As a mom, the desire "to make it all better" is always there. See a problem, find a solution. Wipe away the tears, bandage the wounds, elicit a smile. But what can you do when your child hurts from things out of your control? How can you make it better? What if they won't, or can't, tell you what's wrong? It's so hard when the hurt is emotional, so hard when it's inflicted by circumstances or people we can't control. Struggle can produce strong character, but that doesn't seem worth it in the moment.

They say you can only be as happy as your least happy child. There's a lot of truth in that for me. Sadness in my child produces sadness in me. Pain in their heart pierces mine too. That's one of the hardest parts of motherhood. Today my child struggles with something I can't control.  I can't take it away. I can only lift them in prayer and be available. I can only provide encouragement while they work it out. It's not easy. There's doubt, frustration, questions, and fear. But I know there is One who loves them more even more than me, that knows what's truly best for them, and I'll choose to trust Him.

I know I'm not the only mom anxiously watching from the sidelines. There are many waiting and hoping as their children struggle through hard situations. May we continue to wait and hope and cheer and silently will a victory...and surrender. Minute by minute by minute, surrender it to the God that formed them, trusting that where and when we cannot help, He can.