Clouds are a breathtaking reminder of the beauty in our world.
Every day they are different - in shape, size, and depth.
Sometimes they are so dense we can't see through them at all.
Other times, we look up and catch a glimpse of the sun shining through.
Those are the times that the clouds are the most striking to me.
When you can see the break in them and the light trying to make its way out into the world.
It reminds me that no matter how hard things are, how thick the muck is that we are caught up in, there's always hope.
Hope that we'll catch a break and the light will shine through again.
For those of us with a lot of life experience, hope comes more naturally.
We've been through hard things before, and we can look back and reflect on how those turned out and believe that we'll be okay this time too.
For others, who've only been on their own a short time, or maybe aren't even on their own yet, this can be harder.
The perspective just isn't there.
Sometimes they can't even see that tiny break in the clouds when they look up in the sky.
I think it's up to those of us who do have that lifetime of perspective to help others on their journey.
To encourage them, to push them to see the possibilities in their struggle and to teach them (as best we can) to look at their challenges with an open mind and heart.
I see this with my children especially right now.
The life that looms ahead of them is a scary one. Physically, mentally and financially.
Who knows what our world will look like in 20 years, and now they have to worry about heading out into it and finding their way.
It's a heavy burden for parents to bear this responsibility though.
It's not easy to be that guiding voice, especially when we are in the thick of our own struggle.
I believe it's okay for our children to see us push through our pain, to lose it sometimes even.
But they need to see us get back up.
They need to watch us process the overwhelm and the fear and come back to that level of hope and objectivity.
They need to know it's okay to feel, to sit in it and let their emotions come.
The most powerful lesson I've learned in the past few years is this:
There's not one "right" way to teach our children how to be resilient
There's not one "right" way to fight our way through our own struggle either.
There's just the way that works for us.
Our children will find their own way. The way that works for them too.
And they'll do that by observing the world around them.
Part of parenting is allowing them to watch life play out in real-time.
To see how we deal with all of the curveballs that are thrown at us. And to learn from us and take away the pieces that are useful to them in their future.
It will take time.
They will need to work through a few challenges of their own before they find that sense of hope that everything will be okay.
They'll stumble and fall just like we did, and still do. But eventually they'll get there.
Until then, let's do our best to point them to the breaks in the clouds while we have their attention.
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