Growth from discomfort (9.17.13)

Growth from discomfort (9.17.13)

            We are raising two daughters and like many parents, we tend to want to protect our children from discomfort or pain.  But sometimes good growth comes from discomfort or pain.  My oldest daughter Grace (Maddie), 10 years old, recently read Where the Red Fern Grows.  It’s a great story about a young boy who learns lessons about unconditional love, God's plans, and the value of working hard for what you want.  Its also about pain, and grieving, and real loss. 

            I read the book when I was young so I monitored where Grace was in the book until the final night when I knew things would get tough to read.  I sat on the bed with her and waited for the tears that would surely follow reading things like this:  "Just before he drew his last breath, he opened his eyes and looked at me. Then with one last sigh, and a feeble thump of his tail, his friendly gray eyes closed forever.”  Ugh.  Even knowing the way the story ends, it still hits me in the gut.  Once her bawling stopped, she resumed reading but then the story line got worse and she sobbed even harder.  

            Naturally, my 8 year old, Emmie, wanted to read the book to find out what was so sad.  Here we are a few weeks later and we reached the tough parts of the book again last night. Kim and I had to trade off reading the story out loud because we kept choking up on the words.  It was painful stuff but somehow it was wonderful to share grief and joy.  Reading that allowed us to discuss loss, and how God uses people and situations for reasons we can't always understand.  It also showed the girls that not every story has a Disney ending.  It showed real life. 

            We are moving to Chad, Africa.  A place where real life is happening.  A place where there is joy and pain, and immeasurable need, and unconditional love.  And a place where God has a plan.  I recently read a description of what Jesus "could have" been thinking just before He began His ministry.  How He could have stayed in the comfort of a carpentry shop but He didn’t.  He knew how His story would end, how there would be pain and suffering but He went anyway.  He knew that good growth can come from discomfort or pain.  In comparison, the discomforts of little girls reading sad stories or even moving to Africa don't seem so big.  But they are big.  My girls are grieving the loss of toys, friends, favorite trees, and a childhood home.  The entire family is uncomfortable with losing comfort.  But we are hopeful because we are going to offer comfort to others.   And we are going because despite the challenges there will also be joy and growth… and we have faith that we know how the story will end. 

Love,

Mason, Kim, Grace (Maddie), & Emmie McDowell

P.S.  Maddie has decided she wants to be called Grace (her middle name).  Why not? We could always use more grace.  

            Psalm 139:9-10   

                  9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.