Today I watched love being used as a brutal tool. There is no question in my mind but that the father loves his son. There is no question that the father wants the best for his son. There is no question the father believes his son’s happiness will only come from the father’s definition of success and the pressure to achieve. The problem is the boy is exhausted. He has a life-time of successes to this point. It is time for him to graduate but he is only twenty. Course overloads, clepped exams, summer schools have all gotten this young man to this stage. But now he wants, he needs, he has to have a break before he breaks. But, how can he disappoint a dad who’s living out his fantasy through his son? The pressure continues on to med school. When does it stop?
Love is one of the most powerful if not the most powerful human emotion. The last thing we want to do is disappoint one who takes so much pride in us. We don’t want them to think we are ungrateful for past guidance and encouragement. We want them to be able to say to their friends, “My son – the doctor.”
One of the wonders of our heavenly Father is His understanding of who we are as an individual and while He makes available to us all we need for happiness and success, He never forces it on us. In II Peter 1 we read, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. . .” If we continue reading we discover He actually allows us to participate in His divine nature – right now. It’s the right kind of love.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 27, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org