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I must confess to a degree of bemused confusion when I hear parents that seem to complain every time they have to be around their children. You've probably heard the kind of comments to which I am referring: "Six whole weeks of holiday! What am I going to do with the little monsters??!!" "Just three more days till they're back at school, then I can get on with life again!"
I am always uncertain as to how such an attitude (which I often hear when I am among Christian people) is to be married with the fact that we are to consider our children as a blessing, a God-given responsibility, and an opportunity to actively make a difference in the future. We are often quick to forget that every aspect of our life as parents is a sacred service to our children and to God.
Billy Graham's wife, Ruth Graham, came from a distinguished spiritual family. Her father was a highly respected missionary in China for many years. She was a woman of many gifts and talents, yet she felt that her highest calling was to stay home and raise five children while her husband traveled the world preaching the gospel. She considered her parenting and housework to be an equal call to Billy's own evangelism work. In fact, her daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, relates that over their kitchen sink was a board which said, "Divine service will be conducted here three times daily." That is the attitude of one who has truly recognised the nature of the divine call to parenting!
There is a great deal of media coverage these days about how children are getting worse and worse, how the government must do something to help parents, and how the coming generation is virtually doomed already. I know that there are many troubles with the present generation. I also know that the challenges facing teenagers, and their parents, these days are probably greater than any time in history. I'm not denying that the teenage years can be tough ones (we've got a 12 year old in our house). But the divine call does not stop when a child hits the teen years. God in his grace will give the strength, grace, and wisdom to do everything that is necessary. And he is able to make even those seemingly terrifying years a time of blessing and positive growth for child and parents alike!
In his superb book on parenting teens, Age of Opportunity, Paul David Tripp concludes the opening chapter by saying, "When people ask you what you do, say, 'I am the parent of a teenager. It is the most important job I have ever had. Everything else I do for a living is secondary.' Then say, 'You know, I have never had a job that is so exciting! I have never had a job that is so full of opportunities. Every day I am needed. Every day I do things that are important, worthwhile, and lasting. I wouldn't give up this job for anything!'"
Perhaps if more parents in the world (and the church!) had such an attitude, the outlook for the future generation wouldn't be quite so bleak. Well... we may not be able to change the whole generation, but we can certainly make a difference in our own households. Be encouraged. Ask God to help you, to show you attitudes of your own heart that might be hindering your ability to parent your children, and then fully embrace the divine calling that he has given you--the glorious opportunity to guide, shape, and mould lives for eternity!
Bruce Garrison |
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