If you think of a spring, they’re fitted everywhere! From DVD players to cars, from bicycle derailleurs to pens and staplers, from watches to door handles!
We can find springs, in one form or another, almost everywhere. And they have a really simple job – to make something move in a predictable way.
On my bike, the part I fitted has a huge spring which forces the derailleur to be pushed away from the centre of the wheel. When you press the gear lever, it allows that spring to relax, jus a littler bit – a very set amount – and your chain is put on a lower gear.
The one I bought does exactly this. But in order to fit (the lazy way) I had to remove a couple of small bolts so I could save myself removing the chain just so I could fit the new part to my bike.
And that coiled spring, was held in a position of extreme tension so I could do that.
Unfortunately, the grip I had on it slipped, and the spring did it’s job of bringing the derailleur into it’s more natural position.
The issue came with the speed at which it did this, and the force that it carried…onto my thumb which acted as shock absorber…splitting my nail, causing me quite a bit of pain, ripping a glove – which then leaked blood until I dealt with my injury.
And this is exactly what happens in life. When we’re prevented from doing something, and haven’t been taught how to deal with coiled spring, we may well end up, as is so particularly, and tragically common, leaving home, drinking the alcohol we were always banned from having, or having sex with many people because we were never taught how to deal with the strong hormones that happen during puberty, or having some fun with a dangerous drug like cannabis – why so dangerous, because at Revd David Wilkerson repeatedly pointed out in his book “The Cross and the Switchblade” cannabis frequently leads on to much more dangerous drugs.
As parents, or simply as Christians in a church family, we have an obligation to help those younger than us to learn how to deal with coiled springs.
Because they’re everywhere, and if we do nothing more than ‘restrict’ we’ll be starting a journey of squeezing that spring. This, of course, doesn’t mean we allow or encourage experimentation with evil! We don’t let our children put their hands in a roaring fire so they can learn for themselves that it will burn them. That would be irresponsible!
If we prepare our children and young people to become independent, we can’t be surprised when they leave home and become independent!
I’ve been asked, many times, how parents can make sure their children ‘keep their faith’. And my answer is always the same, you can’t! That isn’t your job, but the work of the Holy Spirit, so help your children cultivate their own relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture teaches us that if we “teach your child the way to go, they won’t easily depart it”.
Andy B
Keep in Touch with the BerryBunch
www.berrybunch.org
Support Us Online
www.berrybunch.org/supportus
