There was a zoo that had been trying to raise tigers. In an effort to buoy up the depleted population, they wanted to breed and protect another generation. Finally, the hour arrived, and the staff was able to watch through closed circuit cameras as their beloved mama gave birth to two live cubs. The staff were emotional and elated. 

 

The story was brief, so it is left to our imagination to fill in some of the gaps. How many seasons had gone by with no births? Was the mother herself born in captivity? Is there any expectation of releasing the tigers into the wild?

 

Another layer of questions rose up as I watched the mother licking her newborns, with a tongue almost as big as they were. What is the level of trust between the staff and the tiger? Do they simply observe, or can they safely come into her pen and touch her? 

 

Then I moved on to a clip of a giraffe being born, in the grasslands of Africa. How astonishing it must have been for the photographer to be in the right place just as it happened. The gangly giraffe tried awkwardly to stand. Having been curled up in a ball up until now, the instinct to walk was waking up. But maneuvering lanky limbs, not five minutes in the outside air, was a wobbly business. His or her mother watched patiently, either unwilling or unable to walk for her child. 

 

Which is it? 

 

When a parent is present for their child's struggles, do they have to resist leaning in to make everything easy? Or is that impossible? There are stories of teachers who bemoan overly eager mothers, rushing in too far to insure success for their child. Last year at least one went to jail because of it. 

 

God is the original Parent. I believe He is watching with intense awareness each time one of us stretches into the unknown. But there seems to be a line He will not cross.