That's Not Safe

This is the story of a young man with dreams of travel and adventure and of the mother who loves him.

Once upon a time a young man, only 17 years old, came to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, I want to graduate a couple months early (for he was homeschooled) and I want to take a train to Chicago (from Dallas) and I want to stay for two weeks."

 

Actually, the locks worked, but they didn't deter thieves.

The mother and father were concerned for the young man's safety and concerned for his venture to the big city, but they decided it would do the boy good to get out and see the world by himself, so they granted permission. 

For, sometimes, it is better to grant permission than to make a bitter child/young adult by squashing their dreams.

But the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

Where will he stay?

And the mother replied, "Yes, but God will take care of him."

And, "He plans to stay in hostels."

So the boy took the long train ride to Chicago and learned how to navigate the city and stay in hostels and stayed with a Christian group that gave him room and board in return for work. And he learned much about himself and about his faith.

And then the boy took a train to Grand Rapids to visit a friend. After the visit, he hitch-hiked back to Chicago. Yes, he hitch-hiked.

And the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

And the mother replied: "Yes, but it appears to have been ok, this time. God took care of him."

Then the boy returned home.

Years passed (2) and the young man came to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, I want to ride my bicycle from the east coast to the west coast with four friends to raise awareness and money for Falling Whistles."

The mother and father were concerned for the young man's safety and concerned that he would not be earning money for college that summer, but they did not deny the request. The mother said, "I will not financially support this adventure, but I will not deny you the experience." For the young man needed to be responsible for his actions and decisions.

And the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

And the mother replied, "Yes, it could be dangerous. But, no, I am not afraid. Even though it will be hard and the young men will be staying with strangers, it is an adventure they will never forget. I will pray and God will be with him."

And the young man learned much about himself and much about his friends, and it was an adventure he will never forget.

More years passed (3), and the young man came to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, I am thinking about going to Palestine to teach high school English.”

The mother and father listened to the young man and said they would support his decision and they did not hear any more about Palestine until three months before time to leave. 

Then the young man, once again, thought about going to teach in a foreign country. And the parents said, "If God provides (for it was an unpaid position which required raising support), you will have your answer."

And God provided support for the year of teaching and the young man flew off to the Middle East.

And the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

Don't you know there are wars and rumors of war over there?

And the mother replied, "Yes, I know. But, I am not afraid, for God has provided and the best place to be is where God has placed you."

And the young man learned to teach English to foreign high school students.

He learned to live in a foreign country with different customs, beliefs, and manners. He learned to understand a little better what the wars and rumors of wars was all about.

And then, he went on a very big adventure with another young man: he hitch-hiked (yes, I said hitch-hiked) all over that small country and learned the generosity of strangers who took them in each night.

And the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

And the mother replied, "No, for I did not know in advance what he had planned. But God kept him safe and it was a great adventure that he will never forget."

And the young man came home after a year of teaching and he had grown older and wiser.

The young man came to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, I am going to grad school in Belfast."

And the parents wisely said, "OK."

And the mother's friends said:

Don't you know that's not safe?

Aren't you afraid?

Belfast, isn't that where they have unrest/fighting?

And the mother replied, "No, I am not afraid, for all his adventures have prepared him for this."

For the mother had learned not to be afraid, for boys/young men need their adventures to prepare them for life, and God will be with them.

**While this story is very condensed, the events are true.

Is there a moral to this story?  Yes, and I will share it later.  Until  then, what do YOU think the moral to this story is?  Leave your comments below. 

This was shared at hiphomeschoolmoms.com