Statistics seem to indicate increasing levels of anxiety among young people. There are so many things that seem to be responsible for this. For many, the fast-paced and demanding nature of their academic world is one cause. While in Zürich recently, I saw an example of this. Fabrice* and Oliver* were busy preparing to take the all important Swiss exam for entrance to the Gymnasium (High School).
Over the past two years, I have seen the increased work that has been thrust upon them in order to prepare them for this test. When I saw them both in May, they appeared skinny and pale. Fabrice and Oliver are two very different boys from two very different families that we are acquainted with in Switzerland. Fabrice is outgoing and athletic. He enjoys art, music and soccer. Oliver is less outgoing and artistic but enjoys hiking, video games and reading.
As different as they are, they both seemed to have much in common this spring. They both seemed pre-occupied and anxious over their upcoming exams. They seemed less like twelve year old boys and more like stressed-out grown men. Fabrice seemed hyper and over-wrought while Oliver was moody and angry. Perhaps there is something in this story which you or someone that you know can relate to?
Of course it is vitally important to oversee our children's education and be concerned with helping them build skills and knowledge, but have we gone too far? The Bible does indeed command us to "train up a child in the way he should go"-Proverbs 22:6. This does include veering that child on a course towards being gainfully employed.
However, since the Bible represents the deep wisdom and guidance of God it tempers that role with the concept that we should, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."-Matthew 6:33. Placing God first in our lives helps us find perspective on everything else and then things will naturally fall into place.
Helping our children develop a relationship with God and his son Jesus will help them get in touch with the God-given talent that they possess. Why do we stress so much about these things when in reality God has equipped us with everything needed to find our place in the work world?
As we introduce our children to their creator God the story of how precious and how loved they are can go very far to help them understand the value which they are imbued with by a God who pronounces His creation as good. This will help them to remain strong as teachers or even test scores seek to define them as something other than what God created them to be. Their friends or even family can sometimes pronounce and declare them to be a “failure” or not “good enough” to enter that school or that profession.
But,when our children have God in their lives they can see deeper meaning in events such as a Gymnasium Exam. Often, those around us can fail to see our children’s talent. Sometimes, that talent is just beneath the surface and not quite ready to bloom. Don’t you think that we are expecting our kids to grow up too fast? God’s timing is always right.
* the names are changed.
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