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         As a child who the parents love and cherish and care for and teach and train grows into a man, the parents must step back and let the child make his own decisions and learn through his own experiences. Though the parents know that some of the decisions are harmful or destructive or hurtful, they can only counsel; they cannot force.
         So is this one in My hands, and so will I teach him what I will teach him because of the decisions that he has made. He is in My hands, so trust Me. Do not feel that you failed. Do not feel condemnation. Do not feel hurt, for he must learn the lessons that I have in store for him.
         You have poured much into him. You have given him much, as a mother gives unto a child. And that which you have given him has been good, pure and truthful. But these decisions that he makes are his decisions, not yours. They don't reflect upon you nor upon the training that you have given him, nor on the love and sacrifice that you have poured forth.
         Do not feel betrayed, for he is as a young one that has come of age and feels the need to spread his wings. Though he flies in a direction that you feel is not best, he has chosen to fly in this direction, and thus he must learn the lessons that await him. As a mother whose child has left home to venture out on his own, so must you pray for him, and so must you be there to comfort him in his time of need.
         I know the heart of mothers as their children grow. I understand the hurt in your heart, for you have poured much into this one and have received little, and he goes forth seemingly ungrateful. He seems to be casting you aside for another. Again, it is as a young man who has left home in pursuit of other interests and thus seems to be abandoning his mother. But as time goes on, he begins to understand the value of that which he had. The love which he has in his heart never fades away, but it changes to a different, more mature love.
         So do not be hurt, but trust; for a mother can have other children, others to pour into, others who need her love, attention, training and care. Look around you. Are there not young ones who need training--who need you, who need the care and the comfort that you can give? Take these under your wing and raise them up. Pour into them, for they need much. As this one whom you trained came to you weak, needing constant feeding, teaching, training and strengthening, and in time grew so that you could lean on him, so will these. At first they will need much counsel, prayer and training, but they will grow and be a strength to you and to My work.
         So look not at that which is lost. Look at that which is gained. Though one child has stepped out, grown, and must bear the responsibility of being an adult in spirit, there are others who now need the comfort of the mother--your comfort, love and training.



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family