When children fall and scrape their knees, parents typically meet their cries of pain with love and attention. Hugs, kind words, and a Band-Aid help soften the blow and ease the discomfort. But what should parents do when their adult sons and daughters experience heartache and anguish? How can parents help them through the difficult times that are sure to come? Challenging seasons are not always proof of failure, but they are always proof of humanity. Pain has a way of leveling the playing field. No amount of faith, success, money, or good intentions can fully shield a person from misfortune. Struggles come to the strong and the weak, the faithful and the doubting, often without warning or explanation. Watching our kids experience the sting of life is sometimes even harder than dealing with our own battles. It’s natural to try to fix the problem for them, apply a “bandage,” and make everything all right. Sadly, many hurts are too deep and complicated to be patched up and forgotten. Some wounds are self-inflicted and can take months or years to overcome. Others are caused by friends, family members, or even casual acquaintances, and may never fully heal. It’s easy for ...