ncbcsrhigh parents’ info

Visiting the Parents of Teens class

March 12, 2007 on 8:54 am | In My Parenting Reflections |

This past Sunday I enjoyed being with the Parents of Teens class.   I love the way this class provides such a supportive environment for parents.  It’s a place where people can be real with each other–as evidenced by the prayer requests that are shared in class.

After recapping the Sacred Pathways material from the previous week, we spent the remainder of the time talking about raising our kids.

I wrote this question on the board:  “As parents it is our job to produce…” and let them discuss it in small groups.   After several minutes, we regrouped and I wrote their perspectives on the board. 

It was a trick question I admit.   I was thinking the word “produce” would elicit answers like:  “children who are well-behaved, God-loving, giving, respectful, productive citizens.”  But the class didn’t fall for it.   They knew that we really have no power to produce character qualities in our kids–they themselves are responsible for how they ultimately turn out.  They will have to give account for their own life.

What they did conclude however, was that we can produce “an environment in which our kids are most likely to grow and mature.”  Just like a gardener.  And we decided that the two key essentials to making this environment fertile for growth are our Example and our Teaching.  

God is the ultimate Producer, whether it’s in the garden or our households.  We only can do our part, pray like crazy, and trust God for real fruit to emerge.