(Eggs with Soldiers, pumpkin spice tea)
Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” — Martin Luther King Jr
This weekend, I scanned my phone. I saw that there is a full-fledged war in the Middle East, 50 people were killed in an attack on Ukraine while at a funeral; another terrible earthquake; the government is in danger of shutting down... It is a lot to take in and figure out how to deal with the fearful news headlines every day.
As adults, we find the constant barrage of “bad news” difficult to bear. Yet, as believers, we must learn to focus on the goodness of God, His infinite ability to engage and bring His light into the darkness of this world. We focus our hope that lies in eternity where all wrongs will be righted, where there will be no sin and darkness. This is a constant battle for us as we seek to exercise faith in this fallen world. We lean on hope that keeps us moving forward.
But young children are not able to bear such burdens. More children are suffering from anxiety. They are being medicated at an earlier age. To grow strong and healthy, they need to be protected from a life of constant fear, turmoil, grief, and destruction. They need to feel safe, protected, and hopeful so that they can grow up to exercise that faith as an adult.
Once when a terrible catastrophe hit the news, people in our coop were reacting and wanted to turn on a live news program. One of my littles got close to my face, looked up at me in terror and said, “Mama, how do we feel about this? I look to you to know if we should worry or not. If you don’t worry, we won’t worry.” The way I responded determined their level of anxiety.
Adults were made to carry the burdens of life, not little children. They long for peace, happiness, love, protection, and safety. Our walk with God, our hope in His reality, His companionship, His presence every day gives our children a way forward to know how to engage with the realities of a dark, broken world. The way we narrate life to them becomes their instructor for how to narrate life for themselves.
God says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Lots more on Tea Time Tuesday: My favorite new tea, stories to share, music, a book review, and more.