In the Introduction, Gladwell writes"David & Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. By "giants", I mean powerful opponents of all kinds-from armies and mighty warriors to disability, misfortune and oppression. Each chapter tells the story of a different person-famous or unknown, ordinary or brilliant-who has faced an outsize challenge and been forced to respond. Should I play by the rules or follow my own instincts? Shall I persevere or give up? Should I strike back or forgive?"
"the fact of being an underdog can change people in ways we often fail to appreciate: it can open doors and create opportunities to educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable."
I could go on and on with quotes from this book. How we respond to difficulties can determine our future.Gladwell would call these "desirable difficulties".
So as we approach this school year, our children will inevitably come across some form of difficulty. These things could be some less difficult issues, such as, getting picked on while riding the bus, teased because they have braces or because they just started to wear glasses, or picked on because of the clothes they wear, or the way they fix their hair, or because they got a bad grade, or maybe its because they are a Christian and they were seen reading their bible at lunch OR more serious and permanent difficulties, like having to deal with dyslexia, a learning disability, a physical disability, a serious illness, a tragic loss of a family member, a self destructive behavior like cutting or a drug or alcohol abuse or addiction issue, an unplanned pregnancy.
Trials and difficulties will come in life. Now how do we choose to handle them? Where do we turn for guidance, comfort and direction.
We parents want to try and protect our children from these things happening to them, but unfortunately we can't protect them forever from the difficulties they will face in life. But what great opportunities to have Faith Walk discussions during these times when difficult things happen to them either by their choice or not. Think about how can you bring the Word of God and our Christian walk into a discussion like that.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4
You can talk about these verses with your children and ask them why would the bible, the Word of God, would say in James to "consider it pure joy whenever you experience various trials", how is that possible? How can you have JOY in times of trials!?!?!? You could have a great discussion on wondering what it is that God is trying to work through in them, because the answer is in the Word, these trials test our faith, but this testing produces in us endurance....endurance why? so that we can grow and become mature in our faith....and this must happen so that we can be mature and complete in our faith, not lacking anything.
We also know that just because we are a Christian, does not prevent us from having trials. In fact, because we are Christians, Jesus says in Matthew 5:10-11 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
There we go again, "Be glad and rejoice". These are great scriptures to have those Faith Walk discussions during difficult times and don't be afraid to be transparent with your children and talk about how hard it is to be joyful, glad, and rejoicing during those times. It's not easy. But you can also talk about how you have grown in your faith from those difficult times and you can remind them that God has a plan through all of these difficulties in life we face, that through them, he promises we will be blessed, we will become mature in our faith, and we will be complete, not lacking anything. What a great foundation you will be giving your children as they grow up and learn how to handle those "desirable difficulties" that will come their way in life We have no idea just how God will use those trials in their lives in the future to benefit His Kingdom, for His Glory.
Terry Langenberg
: TheLangenberg: TheLangenberg
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