Therapist and Author Stephen James spends much of his time working with boys and parents of boys. He says a question he gets asked hundreds, if not thousands of times, is, “Is this normal?” And most often, underneath that question is a deeper, petrifying concern that parents have: “Is my son normal?” If you are a parent or caregiver, you know this worry. Stephen goes on to say that most often, his answer is yes and that much of the parent’s concerns can be dispelled with good information and education. For instance, between ages 13-17, a boy’s physiological world is pure chaos. As Stephen reminds us, during this stage, the chemical reactions in a boy’s body are like a fireworks stand on fire: excessive surges of testosterone, serotonin spikes and dips, and other chemicals and hormones pouring through his body. This can result in out-of-control acne to intense mood swings that mirror those of menopausal women. These chemical shifts cause hair growth, his voice to deepen, and his attitude to sour.
I must admit that after reading Stephen James and David Thomas’ book, “Wild Things, the Art of Nurturing Boys” my quiet yet gnawing concerns as a mother of boys were dispelled. He was right; good information and education gave me perspective. Heart calming perspective. I’ve found this principle also to be true with God while traveling the winding road of life. The various situations we encounter on our life journey can often be uncertain and downright scary, but I’ve found that prayer (walking with God) and reading His Word ALWAYS dispels my fear and gives me a higher perspective.
Remember the time in the Bible when the Prophet Elisha and his servant woke up to discover their home was surrounded by the Syrian Army, intending to seize Elisha? When the servant saw the army, he responded in fear and asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha replied not to be afraid because there were more with them than the army. Elisha then prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” The servant’s eyes were opened, and what did he see? A mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha, who subsequently blinded the Syrian Army. You see, Elisha had what Stephen James describes as “good information and education” --- he had a heavenly perspective that was clearer than the human eye. I encourage you the next time you find yourself with a gnawing concern or fear, to seek the Lord in prayer and find Him in His Word. You are sure to walk away with a higher perspective and your worries dispelled.
Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes... 2 Kings 6:17