History

Raising kids from hard places means that we think about their histories a lot. Some of their past is known, other parts we can only guess. We learn as we go. We would never insist that their pasts don't affect their present and their futures. Instead, we sit with them as they find their voices and do the hard work of healing. It's messy, but it's necessary. And as believers, we are reminded that God doesn't waste any of those hurts and when each child is ready, He will use those for His glory and for His Kingdom.

But how often do we look at our own pasts? Too often, our past hurts trigger us as we walk the healing journey with our kids. We, too, need to do the difficult work of healing from the past. We, too, need to look at our histories, acknowledge and heal. There is no shame, and no blame. Just healing and allowing God to use our healing journey to help our kids heal.

In his Introduction to the History Books in The Message, Eugene Peterson says, "History is the medium in which God works salvation...We cannot get closer to God by distancing ourselves from the mess of history." Oh how clearly I can see this in one of my own who refuses to look at or acknowledge a deeply painful history. How clearly rebelliousness and self-imposed blindness are negatively impacting the present with unpredictable consequences for the future. And how clearly walls have been built to preserve a false sense of safety from God and others.

It is my prayer that all of my children will be able to see their histories as "the medium in which God works salvation", and that true healing can only come from Him. Only then will the mess of our histories lead to salvation, our own and others. But I can't stop there. I must also pray for myself because it is only in seeing my history for what it is, that I will be able to lead my kids there as well.