Thinking a lot this morning about our nation’s high school seniors and young people all over the world being sent home early from missions, activities, and adventures. The plans these young people had have been drastically altered in the face of the COVID 19 pandemic. Seniors will miss their proms and more than likely, their traditional graduation ceremonies. State playoffs and championships have been cancelled. Missions, activities, and adventures have been cut short as these young people are called to return early to their homes. What they will miss and the sadness they feel are in the front of so many of our minds. Parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, advisors, and religious leaders scramble to know how best to support and buoy up these young people. And that is as it should be.
However, with that support and buoying up, let’s not turn these young people into victims of the time in which they live. Every one of us has faced and will face again many more times, disappointment and change beyond our control. Past generations danced at their proms, graduated in traditional ceremonies, and then reported for active military service to be shipped off to war. Missionaries have dealt with mental and physical illness or political unrest that cut missions short. Well-planned trips overseas, to amusement parks, and other worthwhile activities have been canceled. This generation is dealing with the fallout of a global pandemic.
These young people are strong and resilient and will survive these bumps in their road. Twenty-five years from now, missed graduations, proms, cancelled trips and championships, and shortened missions will be a part of the past, a part that either strengthened or weakened each one affected. Twenty-five years from now, they will share what it was like and how unique they felt to be going through this. Or they will still be wallowing in sorrow and sadness for what never was.
Raising my six kids, I wanted to shelter and shield them from anything and everything that would cause them pain, suffering, or grief. And I tried. But then, one day, I realized that if I continued on that track, I would be raising a generation of victims rather than a generation of scrappy survivors.
It is hard to watch our kids deal with disappointment and pain. It is natural to want to protect them at all costs. But it is necessary to scrub their skinned knees, wipe their tears, stand them back on their feet, and assure them that they will survive the hard stuff. Imagine this generation of young people twenty-five years from now as they continue to navigate choppy, dangerous waters. If we encourage them rather than constantly commiserate with them, they just may turn out to be one of the strongest generations yet. A generation ready to do battle with the world. A generation who can deal in a healthy way when their chosen political candidate loses the election. A generation who isn’t afraid of rhetoric or differing opinions. A generation who can disagree without being disagreeable.
There is great opportunity during this time of uncertainty and unrest. Our young people must learn to lead and deal with disappointment. As parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends, we must encourage them to be strong, exercise faith, and not allow victimhood to eat away their responsibility for the choices they make and the actions they take, even when the choices of others upset their plans.
I know so many of these young people who are returning early from their missions. I know so many who are set to graduate this spring. I know so many whose dreams of winning championships have been dashed. I know so many who missed out on activities and adventures. And what I know of them is their strength and their goodness, their courage and their faith. There will be tears, sadness, anger, and frustration as they are required to recalibrate and move forward. But once the tears are dried, the jeans are straightened, and the shoelaces are tied, watch out. These young people are going to run circles around those of us who would, at this moment, shield them from all that will make them strong.
I have faith in you young people. You are here for such a time as this. You will succeed and find happiness and joy as long as you keep your wits about you and choose to be warriors, not victims.