Something to Ponder During the Year of Faith

A parenting story from Michael Farris (our Protestant brethren)

I went skiing with my two youngest sons today. I taught them to ski about six years ago. At first, I had to ski much slower than I would have if I had been skiing alone.

Soon they began to catch up and then start to pass me. Today, they had to wait at the bottom of the mountain for their dad to finally get there.

Yes, I am older than I used to be. And, yes, I had a bad ski accident about three years ago that has made me more cautious. But, the reality is that they are better skiers than I ever was even
in my “prime.”

This is how our parenting is supposed to be in general. If we follow God in our parenting, our children should be spiritually better than we are when we are in our “prime.”

This is the consequence of God’s spiral of blessing described in Deut 5:9-10: “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Of course, my children had to want to learn to ski. And our children have to want to learn to walk with God. We cannot trump their free will. But, good parenting makes walking with God seem like a great adventure, not drudgery.

I am content to have children spiritually better and faster than me. In fact, it is my greatest desire.