Idolizing our children is a trap that many parents unknowingly fall into. It's easy to understand why – they are often the center of our universe, the source of immense joy, pride, and love. However, this love can sometimes cross the line into idolatry, where our children become the primary focus of our lives, even above our relationship with God.
The story of Abraham and Isaac is a powerful reminder of the dangers of placing anything, even our children, above our devotion to God. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, at God's command is a profound example of obedience and faith. It teaches us that nothing should come before our commitment to God, not even the people we hold most dear.
In Exodus, the commandment explicitly states, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4-6). This commandment warns against the worship of idols, which can take many forms beyond physical statues, including our children.
When we idolize our children, we risk elevating them to a position of ultimate importance in our lives, leading to unhealthy dynamics and attitudes. It can result in overprotectiveness, excessive control, or unrealistic expectations, hindering our children's growth and development.
Furthermore, idolizing our children can distort our understanding of love. While our love for our children is profound and unconditional, it should not overshadow our love for God. Our children are gifts from God, entrusted to us for a time, but they are not meant to replace God in our lives.
Understanding God's love for us can help put our love for our children into perspective. God's love is infinite, unconditional, and unwavering. It surpasses anything we can comprehend as humans. When we grasp the magnitude of God's love for us, we can better understand our role as stewards of His gifts, including our children.
There was a time when I believed I held the reins of my daughter's life firmly in my hands, guiding her every step, shaping her destiny according to my will. For years, I meticulously crafted the narrative of her existence, weaving threads of control around every aspect of her being.
Yet, as fate would have it, there came a day when I was faced with a trial so profound, so utterly beyond my control, that I was forced to confront the limits of my power. It was a day when circumstances spiraled out of my grasp, leaving me with a profound sense of helplessness and the chilling fear that I might never lay eyes on my daughter again.
In the depths of my despair, in a moment of raw vulnerability, I found myself uttering words that I had never before dared to speak aloud. "Okay," I whispered, my voice trembling with resignation and surrender. "I get it. She isn't mine, God. She belongs to you. I give her to you. I am so sorry for believing she was only mine and that I could control her destiny. Please forgive me. She is yours."
It was a moment of surrender, of letting go of the illusion of control that had blinded me for so long. And in that moment of profound humility, of acknowledging the sovereignty of a higher power, something extraordinary happened. Just five fleeting moments later, the daughter I had feared lost to me forever suddenly reappeared, her presence a beacon of hope in the darkness that had threatened to consume me.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I sank to my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks, as I offered up praises to the divine for her safe return. It was a humbling lesson, a stark reminder of the limits of human control and the boundless grace that awaits those who surrender themselves to a greater purpose. From that day forth, I vowed to cherish each moment with my daughter, not as a possession to be controlled, but as a precious gift entrusted to me by a loving and merciful God.
Rather than idolizing our children, we should strive to love them with a healthy, balanced perspective, recognizing that they are blessings to be cherished and nurtured but not worshipped. Keeping our priorities in order – with God at the center of our lives – we can ensure that our love for our children remains grounded in faith and obedience.
Monique N.
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