I remember when each of my babies was placed in my arms, only minutes old. I was overwhelmed with love and with feelings of protection. But by the time I arrived home from the hospital, those feelings were accompanied by a big load of panic. How will I know the right things to do? What if I make a mistake?
I blundered forward and despite myself, my babies grew into smart and spirited children. But of course, I worried about their physical and emotional health, I worried about their education—and I worried about their spiritual life. So I fed them healthy food, encouraged their schooling, and took them to worship and to Sunday School and to LOGOS….
Last week I read this article in Christianity Today “The Myth of the Perfect Parent: Why the best parenting techniques don’t produce Christian children” by Leslie Leyland Fields. * Leslie writes, “Our most consuming concern is that our children “turn out”—that is, that our Christian faith and values are successfully transmitted, and that our children grow up to be churchgoing, God-honoring adults.”
My children have grown up to be wonderful adults with families of their own. Their values and ethics are Christian, they are involved in productive work, enjoy great friendships, but do they have faith? Did I fail parenting?
Leslie says, “The question we ask of ourselves must be reframed. We need to quit asking, ‘Am I parenting successfully?’ And we most certainly need to quit asking, ‘Are others parenting successfully?’ Instead, we need to ask, ‘Am I parenting faithfully? Faithfulness, after all, is God’s highest requirement for us…. Parenting, like all tasks under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance, and, above all, faith. It is faith rather than formula, grace rather than guarantees, steadfastness rather than success that bridges the gap between our own parenting efforts, and what, by God’s grace, our children grow up to become.”
May God help us all to be faithful parents….
*You can read Leslie Leyland Fields’ entire article at http://bit.ly/6ZwdUq
Love this Pat! It sure is “blessed assurance” in the midst of tough parenting. I have passed this article on to all of the parents in our LOGOS ministry at my church in Maryland.
Dear Pat—thanks for the support here for the CT article. I’m wondering if you’d like me to send on a review copy of the book that the article came from, “Parenting is Your Highest Calling .. and Eight Other Myths that Trap Us in Worry and Guilt.” I tackly 8 other myths that really get to the heart of our parenting endeavors—and attempt to replace our christian cultural myths with real biblical truths. LEt me know and I’ll get one out to you asap!
Thanks,
Leslie
Dear Leslie,
You are welcome—your article is very good and just the kind of info we like to bring to the attention of our readers. Yes, I would very much like a copy of your book. I’d be glad to read it and post a review of it on my blog—it would be a good follow-up to my first reference to your work. I’ll email you privately with my mailing address.
Blessings on your day!
Grace and Peace, Pat
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