Have you ever had a moment that made you
stop and think, "Wow, this changes everything"? Maybe it was finding
out you didn’t make the team or that
your parents were splitting. Maybe it was finding out you're good at something
or bad at something you didn't expect. In these moments our lives change
direction quickly. The funny thing is nearly everyone who met Jesus had one of
those moments. They came in with a plan, a direction, an identity. And as soon
as they spent any time with Jesus, those ideas were turned upside down. And, as
we look at four of these stories, we find that an encounter with Jesus has the
power to flip our lives as well.
I think
most people would agree that one of the more terrifying parts of parenting
teenagers is the risk factor. They grow up and the stakes are raised. Their
freedom increases but so does the potential fallout from bad choices. Parents
are regularly faced with decisions on when to allow their students to forge their
freedom and when not to. Unfortunately, parents can tend to be overprotective in situations
that they may not really need protection from—and in the name of safety we
may be inhibiting them in a way we never intended.
In his
blog post, How to Help Your Kids, Live
Out Their Story, author, speaker, and dad, Carey Nieuwhoff explains the
benefits of letting go of control and trusting God with their story.
My
grandfather and grandmother did something amazing. They let my dad live his
story, not theirs. They gave up control, protection, and let God write a story
in my dad’s life that was independent of their own.
My dad is one of my heroes. He actually did build a new life (in another country), not just for him, but for many others. He was not only a great father, but he ran a company for years, served his entire life in the local church and has left a great legacy of character for his kids and grandkids.
I’m so glad my grandparents
swallowed hard and let their son pursue his vision. So, now the question.
Would you?
In an era of overprotective,
slightly controlling parenting, I wonder how many stories like my dad’s aren’t
being written. Not because kids aren’t ready to write a story of their own
choosing, but because parents are too afraid or unwilling to let them go or
take risks.
Great plot lines invite things
like drama, risk, mission, and calling. All the things that make parents gulp
(and gasp).
And by the way, my dad did see
his parents again. He eventually had enough money to go back more than a few
times. I even went to Holland with my dad to meet them before they passed away.
As you think about how you
might help your kids connect with their own story, here are three things to
remember:
1.
Prepare yourself now to release them
one day.
2.
Understand that God has your kids on a
journey from dependence to independence.
3.
Let them lead (without rescuing them)
today to prepare them for tomorrow.
Is
there anything you need to let go of today to help create a better future for
your child?
From How to
Help Your Kids Live Out Their Story, http://orangeparents.org/how-to-help-your-kids-live-out-their-story/
