Emmanuel - God with us.

I have no earthly idea how people without faith in God deal with life's difficulties. "God has not promised us a life without suffering or a world without pain; he has promised to walk with us through the suffering and the pain (The Journey, Hamilton, 2011).

Am I alone in this, or do most people have an aversion to pain? There is someone close to me who is suffering, and I want to fix it so badly. I even blame myself for the pain he is feeling. As recent as Sunday night, my mind would not rest for re-living decisions, and wondering if things would be different if only....

I am responsible for nurturing this person, and I am so imperfect. Have I caused the pain? Can I fix it?

As I recall my own adolescence, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that pain led to significant growth in me. Oh, but it is so much harder to watch another face such development from this perspective. I said to a friend today, "Do they have any idea what they do to us?" No, no they don't, and they won't until the roles change. In the meantime, I know Emmanuel, and I know He is with us... always.

The cliche is very true, "They grow up so fast!"