Parenting & an Empty Nest

As I have been preparing for a new series on parenting, I've kept my eyes and ears open for any sort of information on the subject. While driving to my office on Tuesday, I heard some interesting facts from Dennis Rainey and Family life today on 106.9 The Light radio station. Something that really struck me was the fact that 88% of our children will walk away from the Christian faith once they leave home… Folks, we're not meeting the mark when it comes to preparing our children to face the world. In fact, several experts on the show said that if Christian parents were given a grade for our parenting skills, overall we would be failing.

I think we've somehow gotten away from the biblical role of parents. We've bought into the lies of our culture that tear down the family unit and undermine the importance of the role & relationship of the husband & wife with their children. Maybe it's because of advertising, or marketing, but we've accepted the idea that the child is the center of attention in everything. I'm not saying children aren't important - they are... but they're not more important than the marital relationship. And they also should not determine the priorities and practices in the home. For example, in today's world, parents are seen primarily as the providers for their consumer children. That sort of statement can lead us to believe that everything parents do has to be focused on the children... In other words, the parents work for the happiness of the children. We might feel that way sometimes, but that's not the biblical approach to parenting. Yet, so many parents fall into that trap. That's why we have a lot of spoiled brats and so many 25 - 30 year old kids still living at home! Why on earth would they want to give up a sweet deal like that? 

Parents, our primary job titles are not - chauffeur, butler, maid, slave and money source. Of course, we will have to do some of that as a part of life, but those jobs do not define our roles. Our primary roles consist of teaching, training, coaching and preparing our children to leave home. And if we are doing those things correctly, we should also lead them from having a total reliance upon us to having a total reliance upon God. I realize it's tough when the kids grow up and leave home... Lynn and I just moved our youngest off to college. But along with the saddness we both felt when he drove away, was such a great joy and sense of pride. Like his sister, I know Hunter's trust is in God. And I have no doubts that he also has the confidence to spread his strong wings and fly to the greatest heights!  

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