Life can be seriously crappy sometimes. Your children will have disappointments that break their heart and yours. This is one of those moments. What do you tell your child, when she repeatedly feels defeated? We usually come to Facebook to share our children's accomplishments, yet what if they fell short? So I'm sharing today a lesson from defeat, beauty for ashes!
Disappointment will come so honestly it is best they experience it while they are young, while they are still under your protection - where you can nurture and love them. This is not to say that you should cope for them or retaliate on others, but don't belittle their feelings, let them experience it, let them muddle through it as you give love and guidance. Let them experience them, let them cry and then show them how to rise up again.
Their wounds will teach them lifelong lessons in resiliency and how to stand strong despite the mountain or giant they face. To make it in this world, kids need to learn how to struggle. They need to learn how to persevere for a hard fought victory, but also need to learn how to handle disappointment when the victory does not come. The world is tough out there and if they never experience disappointment it will be even worse.
For Claire this is just another notch on her belt of life that she will just need to learn from, but we know our master and He has great plans for her. He clears the path for those plans and makes our paths good. He knows what lies ahead for her and has closed doors along the path to keep her focused and moving forward to her great reward.
So as we gathered up other friends last night that faced disappointment, we made the best of a night of what could have been defeat but became a night of resilience!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
