Parenting 101

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

What is the hardest work you have ever done? What is the hardest job you have ever had? There is a difference between doing hard work and having a hard job. Digging ditches is hard work, but it is not a hard job. Anyone with physical strength can dig a ditch, but doing brain surgery or a heart transplant – that is a hard job!

By far and away, the hardest job I have ever had is being a dad. I agree with a man named John Wilmont, the Earl of Rochester, who many years ago said this, “Before I got married, I had six theories about bringing up children. Now I have six children and no theories.” If you were to ask me if I would like to live my life over again, I would without hesitation say, “Yes!” The number one reason is because I would love to have a do-over as a dad. The most frustrating thing about being a parent is just about the time you realize what you should have done you are out of a job.

There is no more important job in the world than that of a parent. The simple truth is the future of our culture, our society, our nation, and of our world lies in the hands of our children. It doesn’t matter if we leave a better world for our children if we don’t leave better children for our world. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.”

Parenting is scary, overwhelming, and downright exhausting at times. But it is also a blessing beyond measure. We have a Heavenly Father who wants to help His children prepare their children for the future. In His Word, He has given fathers and mothers the greatest advice on how to do their job. There are countless opinions, theories, and parenting styles to choose from today. But what better advice can there be than that which comes from the greatest of Fathers? Let’s choose to go to the source of all wisdom…to the One who created our children and knows what lies ahead. There is none more trustworthy than God. After all, He is the only One who loves our children more than we do.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of children and the opportunity to raise up the next generation. Help me to trust you with the lives of my kids and to remember that you love them even more than I do. In Jesus' name, amen.