Parenting is tough work! There may be no harder job given to us to fulfill and yet we have this sacred, this beautiful, and this at times overwhelming duty to carry out. The Psalmist tells us that “children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them (Ps 127:3-5)!”

We Need A Goal

Regardless if we have one child or if we have ten, we are called to aim our children, to point our children, at a particular goal or target. Just as a warrior doesn’t simply close his eyes and launch his arrows hoping they will strike the target that needs to be struck, neither do we as parents. We don’t close our eyes and just hope our children will turn out how we want them to.

As parents, we need a goal, we need a standard, we need a target that we are aiming at so we know what we need to do now in order for our children to hit that target.

What is your goal? Do you want your children to be upright and productive members of society? Do you want them to be polite and respectful? Do want them to be well thought of by others? To be frank, who doesn’t want all that for their children. I think though, that there is a higher target that we should be aiming at.

As parents who profess faith in the one true God of the universe, I contend the target we should be pointing our children to is Jesus Christ. Are you seeking to raise up your children to firmly set their hope in Christ regardless of what the world may say? Are you attempting to show the excellencies of Jesus contrasted with the sinfulness of your children and yourselves?

Should Go, Not Would Go

Psalm 22:6 tells us that if we train up our children in the way they should go that when they are old they will not depart from it. The key to this verse is that we as parents are to actively and deliberately engage our children by training them. And we are to train them in the way they should go, not the way that they would go. As sinners who have no natural tendency towards good or Christ, our children will go away from Him unless we deliberately engage them and shepherd them.

We need to tenderly, affectionally, and with love consistently point out their sinfulness and their need for Christ. We need to patiently and with kindness draw attention to the beauty and greatness of Christ and what He has done. And we need to pray to our Lord and Savior for His wisdom as we seek to do this in His power.

Help & Support Every Month

This can be an overwhelming mission! Whether you’re a brand new parent, or preparing your teen for college, or anywhere in-between, if you would like some encouragement and help on this journey, come and join other parents at Family Matters which is a monthly meeting of parents who are seeking to bring up the next generation with their hope set resolutely and joyfully in Jesus Christ.

Check out the events calendar and signup for the next Family Matters meeting.