The doctor peered into my son’s ear, looking for a cat he said might be in there. He meowed and then informed us that, sure enough, all that coughing and congestion we had been seeing was tied to a lingering ear infection. Not to be left out of the fun, our 18-month old daughter’s ears were suffering from the same affliction. 

I’m sure you’ve been there too. It’s no fun for anyone. As a parent, it is really hard to see your kids in pain or struggling, whether it is a double ear infection, a skinned knee, or a tricky friendship at school. What is more, as our kids get bigger, so do their challenges, problems, and anxiety. Middle schoolers begin to ask questions about who they are and where they fit. During adolescence, those answers don’t always come easily.  

How are we supposed to respond in these moments? It’s not a question of if it happens, but when. It is easy to become frustrated and overwhelmed, especially when our tanks already feel empty and each day’s headlines bring new unprecedented dangers. How do we find Christ’s promised peace in the midst of trouble? (John 16:33) How do we help our kids hold onto that hope?

It would be great if the answer was as simple as 5ml of amoxicillin twice a day for 10 days. Yet, the Bible does prescribe certain steps: Rejoice! Take heart! Bring your worries to God in prayer (Philippians 4:4-7). We also are called to bear one another’s burdens in a Christian community. Last week, Grand Rapid Christian Schools’ Growing Deeper took a closer look at student anxiety and offered resources and encouragement for parents. I encourage you to take a look and to reach out when things feel hard. We are all in this together.

In Him
— Ben Buursma
Rockford Christian School Principal