I was reminded this morning of a scenario that Corrie Ten Boom describes in her book, The Hiding Place. Corrie was ten years old when she asked her father, “Father, what is sex?” Here is how Corrie’s father answered:
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor. “Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?” he said. “It’s too heavy,” I said. “Yes,” he said. “And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.” And I was satisfied. More than satisfied – wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions. For now I was content to leave them in my father’s keeping.
Unfortunately, many of our children, due to their histories, have been handed knowledge and circumstances that are much too heavy for them to bear. Our job as foster parents and our job as adoptive parents is to step in and lift those burdens off of our children’s shoulders, and give them a safe place where they can rest and just be kids. In doing this, we reflect the Savior’s love for us all.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30