Unhealthy FearsSampel

Afraid to Be Far

When I was 19, I had an opportunity to spend an entire summer in Alaska. I would be staying with a friend and his family, and our summer employment was all lined up. It was an easy decision for me. I said yes and made all the arrangements to go.

While that summer brought so many memories, the one that sticks most in my mind was saying goodbye to my parents. One of them (who shall go unnamed) was showing more tears than normal.

Today, as a dad whose kids are getting close to adulthood, I understand those tears. It used to be that my kids were afraid to be far from me. But then came playdates. Then school. Then sleepovers. Then summer camps. And soon there will be college, and then . . . no more fear.

My goal as a parent is to love my kids so much right now that they won’t be afraid to be away from me in the future. It’s a bittersweet goal. I now understand the tears from my parents.

Spiritually speaking, we should never outgrow our fear of being far from our Father in heaven. The more you grow as a person, the more you become aware of how his strength is made perfect in your weaknesses.

“Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).

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