Parenting by Design - June 19

Release control

Deuteronomy 30:19-20:  "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him" (NIV).

God does not force himself on us.  Even when the consequences are extremely high, he gives us the choice to obey or disobey.  How heartbreaking it must be when some of his children choose death over life. 

We can relate as we watch our kids make self-destructive choices for momentary pleasure.  Every Christian parent yearns for their children to "choose life".  Our example and the way we parent has an enormous influence on our kids, but it will never give us total control.  After all our best efforts, eventually, we must accept that we cannot give our kids an intimate relationship with the Lord.  That is something they must choose for themselves.

Good parenting cannot guarantee a good result.  For that, we must trust the Lord.