Did anyone else have to deal with sugar-crashing children Sunday evening and begin to question their own sanity? Just me? I say this as the person who had candy thrown all over the church lawn for students to find so I know that I was my author of that particular stress point.
Parenting, and life in general, is stressful. Sometimes I look around and feel as if the world has gone insane. Truthfully, it has been even since the Fall of man but thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we are invited into a new way of living in and seeing the world. The death and resurrection of Jesus changes everything - which includes how we parent. So as parents what are we to do in this upside down world?
Surround your family with godly community. I’m not talking about people who just go to church sometimes or who are “good” people. Yes, godly people will most certainly be deeply connected to a Christian community and yes they will be kind and good but worldly good and the goodness of God look and feel different. Raising children with an understanding of and passion for the Kingdom of God is an effort led by the parents but supported by a godly, Christ centered community. We all need community, real community. Join or create a community of believers who will support you in raising up Kingdom minded children, encourage you to grow in and share your faith, and hold you accountable when temptation arises.
Read, know, and act on God’s word. It is difficult to allow God to renew our minds when the majority of our days are spent conforming to the pattern of the world. When we intentionally take the time to read, know, and act on God’s Word we become like a tree planted by water, unbothered by heat or drought (or insanity of this world) so that we can produce fruit (Jeremiah 17:8).
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, as a parent you need to know your identity in Christ: forgiven, child of God, ambassador of Christ to this world. We live in a culture obsessed with identity, seeking it anywhere and almost everywhere but so often ignoring where it is and was always meant to be: found in Jesus. When you know who you are in Jesus then you can help your children, and others, find their identity in Jesus too. Remember, you are to bear the light of Christ. Let it shine for all to see - especially our children!