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Fear of Not Protecting My Kids
Dear Max,
I am a mother of three and have this overwhelming fear about not being able to protect my kids. One day they are sick, the next day one falls on the jungle gym and breaks his arm, and then one comes home crying after being teased by an older child. To top it all off, I was watching a talk show the other day about children getting cancer. I just can’t take not being able to keep them from getting hurt. It’s driving me crazy! What do you suggest I do Max?
-Deborah, Birmingham, AL
Deborah,
What you are going through is not uncommon at all. You may be a Navy SEAL, a multi-million dollar investment broker, or the Secretary of State, but it doesn’t matter. Every parent melts the moment he or she feels the full force of parenthood. Denalyn and I had many moments as parents when we didn’t know what to do. But we can take our parenting fears to Christ. In fact, if we don’t, we’ll take our fears out on our kids. Fear turns some parents into paranoid prison guards who monitor every minute, check the background of every friend. They stifle growth and communicate distrust. A family with no breathing room suffocates a child. Remember Jesus’ words, Deborah, to “fear not” when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Take a breath. Embrace prayer in these times, for it can be the saucer into which your parental fears are poured to cool.
