Love

LOVE

Does it seem to you as though there is a parenting crisis? I hear it in the news everyday. Headlines are filled with stories about convicted felons, child molesters, killers and gang members. Our entertainment TV news thrives on stories of public figures in sex scandals, as drug addicts, and as teen alcoholics. We almost have to be reminded that these were once innocent children, once kids down our streets riding bikes and catching fireflies. Ok, well some may have been already shopping for Gucci purses! But these once babes, now wildly spinning out of control adults are destroying their lives and the lives of bystanders, friends, family members. We could argue that these people are adults; they have made theses destructive choices. One could claim that its no ones fault but their own. We could blame their schools, their cities, their churches or socioeconomic status. But, I can’t help to wonder who their parents are? Where are they? Did they feel loved as a child? What were they taught by their parents? Could they have help changed the course of destruction?
Is it just that children will turn out one way or another? What about my children? What will they turn out to be? My greatest fear as a mom is that my children will grow up to be Godless, destructive and alone. Is there impact and influence that I as a mom have in their lives that will affect what kind of adults they become? I think that most of us believe the parenting role is an influential relationship in a child’s life. Do we realize it is the most important role? I think we do.
Deep inside I hope that what I do now as a mom will impact them on into adulthood. I have to believe that I can train them, teach them, and model to them. You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If my fear is that my children grow up into Godless, destructive and lonely adults; my hope for who they become as adults seems pretty clear to me. I want them to be God-filled, life-giving, relational adults. I have a strong suspicion that is what you want as well. So here it is, the “future,” our first crisis. Will our children grow up into every mother’s dream, or something else?