The term independent thinker is almost always used in a positive context, but can it have a dark side? I think so!
I was with a friend recently and noticed how her young son
looked to her for answers. We were teasing him about coming home with my brood
and he looked intently at his mom, searching her face for approval.Though, It
was only a moment‘s glance, it was one that I shall not soon forget, for it
spoke volumes. He looked to his mom,
(his authority figure) to see if the proposal was agreeable to her. How peaceful all our homes would be if that
were the norm.
It made me think and ponder... Do I look to my authority
figure, ( my husband and even still my higher authority; God and the Church) to
help me make my decisions? Did God
intend for us to live and think independently?
Is He not more pleased when we look to Him and to the Church, the authority
He established for us (1 Tim 3:15) when making decisions, especially big ones? Knowing the Bible, Church norms and ourCatechism (for Catholics) is key. We can't live by a Truth that we don't know.
Obviously, we have to teach our children to make their own decisions
(though most of them have NO problem with that). Equally important though, if
not even more so, is establishing boundaries for them and teaching them to stay
within those boundaries. If they cannot, they will
not be able to be "independent” from the burden of following their peers
opinions and feeling the need to “fit in” regardless of the moral impact. I
think it is always best to be “dependent on Him” and by guiding our children to
follow boundaries that we have set up as their authority, we help them on their
journey.
