Beyond the Myths of Parenting (2)

‘Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…’ Psalms 127:5 NIV

Here are another two parenting myths. (1) Good parents always produce good children. If only that were so, but it’s not! Even when you do all the right things, your children get to make their own choices in life. Cain and Abel were raised in the same home by the same parents, but Abel’s choice pleased God while Cain’s led him to commit the first recorded murder. Even model parents have no control over the choices their children ultimately make. This doesn’t mean your attempts to be a godly influence on them are wasted; not at all! It just means that when you’ve done your best you should: (a) recognise and accept your limits; (b) teach your children wisdom, allowing them to be responsible for the consequences of their decisions; () trust God to do what you cannot do. Some kids get the message quickly, others like the Prodigal Son take detours—but God never gives up on them—and neither should you. (2) Good parents treat all their children the same way. The Bible says, ‘Teach your children to choose the right path…’ (Proverbs 22:6 NLT) Every child is wired with a unique set of needs and abilities, and wise parents recognise and work with these characteristics. Your responsibility isn’t to try to make them the ‘perfect kid’. It’s to try to discover the distinctive pattern God built into each child, and work to develop that pattern in them. The reward God promises such parents is ‘…when they are older [detours notwithstanding!] they will remain upon it.’ (Proverbs 22:6 NLT)