Tag: life’s challenges

If you’re the parent of a prodigal…don’t give up!

Published on by Kimberly NovakLeave a comment

prodigalDriving home from work yesterday, I flipped over to a  radio station on impulse and the phrase being spoken, which still echoes in my heart, was “If you’re the parent of a prodigal, don’t give up”. Having missed more than half the broadcast, I was hesitant to continue, worried I would not get the gist of what the intended focus was to be.  My heart, on the other hand was leading me in the direction of staying, listening and learning.

Families are complex in themselves, but when a severe trauma is thrown into the mix the possibilities for destruction of the family unit are endless, and the risk of a lost sheep is inevitable.   I have found myself on many sides of this unfortunate equation, from being directly involved to a concerned friend looking on from a distance, and no matter how the stories develop or what the reasons are, the pain and struggle are real and should be considered an extreme loss.

In the parable of the Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32), the focus was the mans son, but who is to say that in our lives, the prodigal can’t also be a spouse, another family member, or even a friend; any Child of God, who has separated themselves from family, those they love, and our loving God.

I have always been impressed with the father in the parable and his commitment to waiting with complete love and respect in his heart for his son’s return.  I believe it is his faith that gives him the strength to do so.  It is his faith, which allows him to welcome his son back into his life with no questions asked; and it is through the need for compassion, they are reunited.

Remaining on the radio station and listening to the last five minutes of the broadcast, meant the world to me.  First, it reminded me that no one is alone in suffering, not only are we held in God’s embrace, there are other’s going through similar circumstances.  Secondly, strained relationships are far more prevalent than ever before and it is a fast growing concern for any family, broken or not.  And lastly, I learned that it is OK to be in a state of unrest, frustration, sadness, and despair when grieving the loss of a prodigal as long as we know what to do with those emotions.

One of the callers on the broadcast suggested simply praying “Help me God”.  Other suggestions are “Heal his/her heart”, or “Please love them as I love them”.

Prayer, an intimate conversation with God, can be a replacement for picking up the phone and setting yourself up for the rejection that is most likely on the other end.  When that urge hits to reach out to your prodigal and you are not sure if it is the right thing to do…pray and let God lead.

In the meantime, if you need to fill an empty space, imagine that all of the energy which goes into the worry, frustration, and sadness, will, in God’s time, be transformed into a beautiful reunion, filled with compassion, love, understanding, and the blessings of God.

For anyone suffering from this loss, please know that you are being lifted in prayer by all others who are waiting, wondering and hoping for their returning prodigal.  If you have a similar story and would like to share, please lift other’s up by commenting.

Many Blessings to All,

Kimberly

Courageous Butterfly

Related posts/pages

Moody Radio, Cleveland

Luke 15:11-32

Welcome Home, Prodigal Child of God

 

Unplanned Opportunities

Published on by Kimberly Novak1 Comment

Plan:  a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something

We all have them.  We’ve spent countless hours determining the order they should go.  Some have spent thousands of dollars just to get themselves to a point in which they can carry them out.  What is the reaction when our plans are interrupted?  Those of us who have faced the loss of a relationship know all to well the answer to that question.  We tend to shut down.

When plans are interrupted, not by our choice, it can make one a little cranky!  The trick is to try to respond to life’s pause with love.  It is not easy to see the good in the midst of the bad, but trust me it is there.  At first it will seem like life as you knew it is gone. Only because life has changed the plans for you.  Adapting to change is one of the hardest things anyone can go through.  I’ve heard that the fear of “change” is one of the things people fear the most.  It beats out heights, spiders, plane crashes, and even skydiving.

Believe me it is easy to let yourself slip into the why’s and what if’s when dealing with loss.  Imagine how different life would be if instead we rose to the height of creativity when facing shattered plans.   Using creativity as fuel to propel yourself forward in life can bring so many opportunities.   A journal, for example, is a very creative way to begin to heal.  Other’s have found solace in crafts, cooking, and photography.  There are several celebrities who rose to great heights because they overcame  shattered plans and flourished in their adversity.  Just to name a few, Oprah, J.K. Rowling, Vincent Van Gogh, Bethany Hamilton, and Michael Jordan.   Each of them had gone through and survived a loss which made them who they are today.

Famous our not, we can all react in a way that will help us to achieve our version of greatness.  It is important that we do not become afraid of making new plans and doing our best to carry them out.  But we also have to remember that even though we have our plans, God has his too.   I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of thinking I was in complete control of what I had been planning.  There are several outside influences that will dictate how our plans are carried out.  My marriage for instance was not just in my hands but also in the hands of my ex.  We cannot always count on the fact that what we have plotted out to happen will go exactly the way we want it.

So we have to train ourselves to react to life’s interruptions.  I have begun to train myself with faith, hope and love.  Having faith within to be able to rise to the challenge.  The hope that the new proposal for life will see itself through.  Loving to the point of throwing self-doubt out the window.  If we can face each unplanned opportunity with these three attributes I am confident our new life will be full of wonderful surprises!

How have you faced an unplanned opportunity?  Please share.

Kimberly

Courageous Butterfly

7/22/12