Daughter-Jo and family came round yesterday. Rachel cooked an excellent Sunday roast – beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the vegetables… Son-in-law Allan had requested banoffee pie… It was a lovely time.
Twenty-year-old granddaughter-Hannah, home from university, and twelve-year-old grandson-Luca, enjoying school holidays, reminded me of parenting responsibilities… particularly the challenge of intervention… If my child makes an unwise decision… needs help… is confused, uncertain, distressed… At what point do I intervene – or not?
…On Saturday I had a conversation with Barry about assisted dying. A good friend had a sad painful death. He believed that someone should have intervened and ended his suffering. I understood his point of view.
…In our garden pond there was frogspawn with a newt beside it. In previous years frogspawn and baby tadpoles have been eaten by the newts… Should I intervene and remove the frogspawn to somewhere safer or should I let nature take its course?
…Yesterday at church we were reflecting on Jesus in Simon’s home in Bethany… an uninvited woman enters, breaks an alabaster jar, and pours very expensive perfume on Jesus’ head.
Some say that someone should have intervened. The woman shouldn’t be here… it’s a waste of expensive perfume… the event’s embarrassing and preventable. Jesus is adamant. No-one should intervene. He commends her beautiful, extravagant act.
Sometimes with family and friends I want to intervene: I think I know best… I like to be in control… I want to help. Sometimes I don’t want to intervene: their lives are messy… there may be a cost – emotion, time, commitment… it’s none of my business.
The wise words of Ecclesiastes talk about a time for every activity…
…a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak…
… A time for intervention and a time for non-intervention. I pray this week for the wisdom to distinguish between the two.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Thank you, Malcolm.
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Good to hear from you Jill… Praying for the challenging decisions you might have to make this week regarding intervention or non-intervention…
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Malcolm, such wise and thoughtful words. I feel all of this. I’ve been in those situations and pray for wisdom and guidance. By the way, a wonderful looking family, too, my friend. You give us much to ponder and pray! 🙏🏻
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I certainly find it difficult to know when to wade in with my opinion, and when it’s better to keep quiet… And our grandchildren of course get their good looks and intelligence from their grandparents!!
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Of course, Malcolm!!! 😂🥰
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This is especially tough in these times where everyone is at the ready with their opinions. You are right, Malcolm, for me it also a control and helping issue. Being quiet is really hard!
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You’re right, Dana. Not only does everybody have an opinion, but we’re expected to be forthright with ours as well.
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