I recently visited Africa. The major city’s temperature average was 85 degrees F (28 C), with near 100% relative humidity. I had a constant battle with the heat, and struggled to drink enough to stay hydrated. In spite of this, I found myself suffering heat exhaustion many days, sometimes on the verge of heat stroke.

The primary difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke has to do with core body temperature and persistent, severe neurological manifestations. Heat stroke involves a core temperature above 104 F (40 C), and persistent neurological dysfunction to include coma, seizure, and altered level of consciousness, confusion, or headache. Heat exhaustion can present with dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, unsteady gait, muscle cramps and fatigue. The core body temperature is elevated but remains below 104 F.

In this battle, I found that the hotter my core temperature got, the more things started working in reverse of the way they were supposed to do. The more I drank, the more my kidneys wanted to eliminate (rather than retain) the fluid. My sweating did not manage to keep up with my rising body temperature. Dizziness ensued. The only way I managed to cool down was to pour a bottle of cold water on top of my head.

This compares to how we often react to the stress of trying to manage the actions of our adopted children. We want them to act in a way to please God, but they can be influenced by peer pressure, social media, and advertising. This may result in a battle of the wills, with the overall temperature of the family rising. The only way to defuse this seems to be to pour some cold water all over everything.

First, we have to recognize the signs of our own “heat exhaustion” as parents. Some of the stress comes from our own expectations and desires, and we need to be sure that all we do is guided by the Holy Spirit. Second, we need to recognize that God has no grandchildren, only children. That means that we are to lead and guide our children in His ways, but there will be times when they will rebel. God has a way of spanking our children better than we can! We have to be willing to let them suffer the consequences of their bad decisions and actions so that they will learn from them. That means that there will be times when we, as parents, will have to back down and trust God to do His work in their lives, especially as they get older. Otherwise, we will pass the threshold from “heat exhaustion” to “heat stroke” in our relationship with God and with them.

How are you feeling right now with regard to your children? Do you feel your temperature rising? Is there something God wants you to do to lower the temperature? Are you studying your children in order to learn their love languages? Ask Him to lead and guide you. And feel free to comment in the comment box below.