Consistency In Parents... And Pastors

Parenting is an interesting dynamic. Quite frankly, it some ways, I think it's God way of keeping entertained (if that were possible) You spend a lot of time teaching kids about issues and matters that you, that many of which, you have yet to master yourself.

Of late, mine has been with my oldest, discerning what's worth getting upset... which often backfires on me, because then my wife will stop in shortly thereafter and remind me; this thing you are upset over, isn't that big a deal. Yet it was for me. Just like something else was for my daughter. Life repeats, from our own; into our kids. And it's like we are managing ourselves all over again.

One comedian described it as the Mother's curse.
Another comedian calls it every parent's prayer

Whatever it's called; the seeming truth of the matter remains...

When you have kids, I hope they act the same way, that you act.

Comedian, Jeff Allen's take on what's in store for me in the coming years of parenting makes me a little leary, yet brings a smile to my face at the same time. He says that:

"I believe teenagers are God's revenge on mankind," he said. "One day God is looking down over his creation and says to himself, 'Hey, let's see how they like it to create someone in their own image who denies their existence.'"

Then he follows it up, with this spiritual insight:

"I looked through the Bible cover to cover, and it never mentions how old Satan was when he finally rejected God's authority. My guess? Sixteen."

There will always be stuff in life to get worked up about; things that will be frustrating and difficult; bothersome to the point we will feel the need to respond and perhaps take action. Parenting is one of those positions that will constantly keep in you in a mental state of figuring out what where those boundaries are and what those responses and actions should look like.

Much of life is taught without words.

As such, the moments when we do use words, becomes all the more crucial; because for whenever it doesn't line up, we can find ourselves in very troubling and disconcerting places accompanied by some challenging conversations.

So, pray with me, this #youthPastorWednesday, that just as there needs to be a consistency in parenting; that there would be a consistency in our faith, from the believer in the pew to the pastor in the pulpit. Pray for discernment as we teach by word and by example, this next generation and the matters of importance. May their be a grace and a covering for our faults and failures; when we blow it and when we blow up. Pray, that as adults, we would lead and live lives that would seek to glorify and honor God; that we would set a precedent of unwavering faith and that we would help build foundations of the same, in the lives of the young people coming behind us... growing up way too fast. God help us all, parents and pastors.

For this life is not our own.
Neither can we live it on our own.
For His glory.

- PNC