Children
"Children are heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."
– Psalm 127:3-5
Last week, I shared the blessings and challenges of healthy family relationships and the intentionality required to build them well. This week, I want to go deeper into one of the most sacred and significant roles God entrusts to us — parenting and grand-parenting. Amy and I were at our home at Lake Martin this weekend and took a long walk and found ourselves reflecting on the blessings of life and the journey of raising our three daughters, Mary Kathryn (34), Saige (31), and Bella (21), and now the incredible joy of watching them parent our eight grandchildren. If family is one of God's greatest gifts, then our children and grandchildren are truly a double portion of that blessing. And with that blessing comes one of the greatest opportunities and responsibilities God places in our hands.
Key Principles of Godly Parenting and Grand-parenting
Our Children Belong to God, We Are Stewards: One of the most liberating and sobering truths in parenting is this:our children are not ultimately ours.They are God's children entrusted to our care for a season. When we grasp this reality, it completely reframes our role. We are not owners, we are stewards. Our primary assignment is not to shape them into our image but to point them toward His. This perspective shifts everything: how we discipline, how we release, how we pray, and how we respond when things don't go as we hoped. It also relieves us of the impossible burden of being a perfect parent, because ultimately God is their heavenly Father, and He is sovereign over their lives."Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it"Proverbs 22:6. The most important thing we can do as parents and grandparents is to model an authentic, abiding relationship with Jesus. The things of God are more caught than taught. Our children are watching how we handle adversity, how we treat others, how we pray, and how we love. That daily example is our most powerful parenting tool.
Intentional Investment at Every Stage: Parenting is not a passive endeavor;it requires intentionality at every stage of life.One of the most critical and challenging seasons is adolescence, that transition between childhood and young adulthood, typically ages 13 to 17, when our children naturally begin seeking independence. If we are not equipped with the right perspective, this season can feel like rebellion rather than what it truly is: a God-designed transition toward healthy independence. Our role as parents must evolve as our children grow. In the early years, we are teachers and protectors. In the teen years, we shift toward coaches and advisors. And as they become adults, we transition into friends and encouragers, cheering them on as they step fully into their own identity in Christ. One of the most impactful resources in our family's journey through this season was the JH Ranch and Outback Ministry -www.jhoutback.com. The godly wisdom we received through that ministry was genuinely life-changing for our family, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to every parent."Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire"Proverbs 29:17. Intentional investment also means creating consistent rhythms of connection, shared meals, family traditions, meaningful conversations, and experiences that bond generations together. These investments compound over time and become the fabric of a lasting family legacy.
There Is Always Hope, God Is a Redeemer: Every honest parent will tell you that, despite their best efforts,the journey is not without pain.Children sometimes go astray. Relationships become strained. Seasons of distance and heartbreak are real. If you are walking through that right now, I want to speak directly to you. There is always hope. Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 not just to describe a wayward child, but to reveal the heart of our heavenly Father, a Father who runs toward us, not away from us, when we return. God is a God of redemption, restoration, and second chances. It is never too late to surrender your children and grandchildren to Him and trust His plan for their lives."I will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents"Malachi 4:6. This is God's promise and His desire, a restored relationship across generations. Whatever season you find yourself in as a parent or grandparent, be encouraged. God is not finished, and His redemptive work is always moving forward.
The blessing of children and grandchildren is one of the clearest pictures of God's grace in our lives.Our eight grandchildren: Selah, John Michael, Lily, Hazel, Neriah, Kyle, Elouise, and David (with another on the way and due in October 😊), are a constant reminder to me of God's faithfulness and generational goodness. The investment we make in the next generation, spiritually, relationally, and intentionally, is some of the highest-return Kingdom work we will ever do. It is the very heartbeat behind the Heritage Forum and Abide & Lead. If we want to leave a legacy that outlasts us, it begins right at home.
Challenge Question:Are you being intentional about investing in the next generation, your children, grandchildren, or the young leaders in your sphere of influence? What is one meaningful step you can take this week to sow into their faith, their identity, or their future?
Prayer:Father, thank You for the incredible gift of children and grandchildren. Forgive us for the times we have tried to parent in our own strength rather than leaning on You. Give us wisdom, patience, and grace to point the next generation toward You in everything we do and say. Where there are wounds in our family relationships, bring healing. Where there is distance, restore connection. And where our children or grandchildren are still finding their way, remind us that You love them even more than we do, and that your redemptive plan is always at work. May we be faithful stewards of the arrows You have placed in our hands, launching them well for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Children are one of God's greatest gifts and one of our greatest Kingdom assignments. May we steward them well for His glory and for generations to come! Have a blessed week!
