Walking With Others Through Life’s ValleysSample

NEVER GIVE UP ON A LOVED ONE

Do you have a loved one who’s lost their way in life? Whatever you do, don’t give up on them. Take a lesson from the Judean date palm tree. You never know when a seed may take root and bloom.
In the mid-1960’s, an archaeological dig in Israel revealed a cache of date palm seeds nearly 2,000 years old. Having lain dormant for two millennia in such an arid climate, most experts logically assumed the seeds were dead and, other than their historic value, useless. But then faculty at a Jerusalem university were given a few of the seeds to conduct scientific experiments. To everyone’s surprise, the seeds germinated soon after being planted. In fact, within a few years, the date palm tree they produced was thriving and stood nearly eight feet tall.

It’s a powerful reminder for families with a loved one who’s gone astray. When someone’s life seems barren and directionless, it can feel as if their circumstances will never improve. But our lives are often like that desert seed that blossomed into a beautiful tree against all expectations. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, you never know what potential God may already be stirring inside someone’s heart.

Obviously, we can’t be naïve when a loved one is making poor choices. Wisely enforcing appropriate boundaries is important. But through it all, we have to trust that God is at work in their life and remain hopeful that a wonderful transformation could be underway.

If you have a loved one who has lost their way, I encourage you to speak with one of our counselors at 1-800-A-FAMILY for guidance and support. And for a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.