Brave Sunglasses

This past Wednesday was my daughter’s sixth swim lesson and it started just like the other five had – with LOTS of tears.  I’m talking as soon as we pulled into the driveway they started falling.  And falling…and falling…and falling. You see over the past few months, since turning two, Nora has started to use the word “scary” in context.  As her imagination is developing she now sees lots of things in life as frightening.  She thinks new places and new people are scary.  She even thinks the church nursery is scary.  And she obviously thinks swim lessons are scary too.  It seems to be her new favorite word. On Wednesday, as we were pulling into the parking lot with tears rolling down Nora’s cheeks, I decided that bedtime and mealtime prayers were just not enough for little Nora anymore.  She was now at the point where she needed to understand the importance of turning to God when life is hard. So we prayed.

Dear God, Right now I’m very scared. I know that you can help me to be brave. Please help me to have courage during my swim lesson today. Amen.

A simple prayer. That’s all it takes sometimes, right? As Nora was trying her best to wipe away her tears and be brave, I decided a visual aid was necessary.  We pulled out both of our sunglasses and I told her about how God gives us His helper called the Holy Spirit when times are hard.  These sunglasses can be your helper today.  Whenever you put them on they will help you to be brave.  She immediately put them on and wore them proudly as we walked into swim school that day. Now was she still scared?  Yes… of course.  But my prayer for Nora is that in time Joshua 1:9 will be a truth she will cling to:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

And if prayers and verse memorization are not enough, she can always grab a pair of sunglasses…I’ve heard they can help you to be brave. 🙂

For more on teaching your children to be courageous, check out Dr. Kimmel’s Home Grown Heroes.