Faith vs. Fear

It is hard being the mom of teenagers.  They think they are so grown up and want to make their own decisions.  And they should.  But it’s hard to watch them make bad decisions.  I know it’s part of Heavenly Father’s plan that we each get to make our own choices.  I know that I wouldn’t want to be forced to do things that I don’t want to do, even if they are righteous things.  But it’s still hard to have to sit back and not have any control.  All I can I do is pray and talk to them and give them my opinion and hope they make the right choices. 

It sounds easy, but it’s not.  I have been stressing about my kids for quite a while.  And last night, I realized that I have been living in fear.  I have been fearing the decisions they will possibly make instead of having faith that Heavenly Father will watch over them and take care of them. 

And He will.  He will not take away their agency.  He will let them make their own choices.  But He will always be there when they need Him.  He will not desert them.  They just have to ask.  And I have to have faith that things will work okay. 

They might make choices that take them down the wrong path.  I don’t have control over that.  But I have control over what I teach them.  I will continue to hold Family Home Evening.  I will continue to have family prayer.  I will continue to have family scripture study.  I will continue to take them to church.  I will do everything that my Heavenly Father has told me to do to teach them and show them the right way.

Child: Teach me to walk in the light of His love;

Teach me to pray to my Father above;

Teach me to know of the things that are right;

Teach me, teach me, to walk in the light.

Parent: Come, little child, and together we’ll learn

Of His commandments, that we may return

Home to His presence, to live in His sight.

Always, always to walk in the light.

Both: Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day

For loving guidance to show us the way.

Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!

Gladly, gladly we’ll walk in the light.

I will have faith.  And I will pray.  A lot.