Skip Navigation

Blog

Back

Do You Know a Snowflake?

March 30, 2017
By Dr. P. Ogborne

I think that a scary thought for most parents is finding out that their child has acquired a negative “label”

Academically – slow, unfocused, no effort

Personality – unkind, bossy, or selfish

I recently took a trip to a school in the USA and learned of a new term to describe certain students.

“snowflakes”

Sounds very cutesy, but the label is a harsh comment on the character trait that is rolling like an avalanche over a new generation of young people. By definition, it refers to the person’s inability to handle hard work, disappointment and stress. Under this heat . . . they melt!  In trying to make life comfortable, we have removed all opposition from their lives so that they will feel good about themselves, not experience any pain, and forbid any sense of failure!!

Think about it. My hockey team steps onto the ice. After 20 minutes of play we have taken 34 shots on net and scored 16 times. Wow, what a sense of accomplishment?? Did I forget to mention that the other team never showed up? Is this joy a valid feeling? Not in the least. Without opposition, there is no growth or sense of victory in our efforts. For muscle growth, you need appropriate and controlled opposition in order to see them get bigger and stronger. When it comes to character, is this not why the Apostle James could write:

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)

As Christian parents and educators, we are not called to remove the trials of our children and students. It is our role to provide the tools to meet the challenges head on, work hard through them and count the results as JOY.