I have been working on my parenting diploma for almost 109 years!
Charles for 39 years, John for 37 and Thomas for 33, but it does not appear that I will be graduating any time soon.
When I first matriculated into this school, my “classes” were solely focused on learning to love Charles in a godly fashion with humility, gentleness, patience, authenticity, kindness, compassion and forgiveness. It was easy day one, but got much more difficult around his second birthday. John’s arrival added a new dimension and complexity to my parental studies; two is significantly more than one. Thomas’ arrival catalyzed my last parenting class on godly love and further accelerated my heart’s development. Oh my, three is fifty-percent more than two!
When Charles became a toddler, I began a new and more difficult subject matter within my parenting studies. These daily classes focused on how to equip and empower a young human for life as an adult. What a challenging, multi-year curriculum! This phase of learning included numerous divergent themes such as relationships, food, homework, bicycles, teamwork, decision-making, finances, girls, Jesus, dogs, cars etc! The hardest part of this phase? Keeping track of who needed what and when! Suffice it to say, I have very little hair today.
Today’s Conviction?
Jesus’ followers also need to be parented (aka discipled) in much the same way!
Step One of Parenting a Jesus Follower: It always begins with the enculturation of Jesus’ preeminent value, namely selfless love. Apostle Paul details this theme so well in Ephesians 4: humility, gentleness, patience, authenticity, kindness, compassion and forgiveness (4:1-3, 15, 32). I call this ongoing investment “heart discipleship” and define it as the process of restoring and training a Jesus follower to welcome God’s love and walk it out relationally.
Step Two of Parenting a Jesus Follower: Just like parenting children, the second step of discipling Jesus’ kids has a more practical focus related to building their confidence, skill and competence as a servant of others. I call this ongoing investment “ministry discipleship” and define it as the process of apprenticing, aligning and empowering disciples to effectively serve others within their context.
How obvious to me now!
My heavenly Father has loved and equipped me flawlessly for 49 years and has invited me to partner with Him in “parenting” others!
“We are God’s workmanship; created in Christ Jesus to do good works
which He prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
Who has the Father called you to “parent” (love and equip) in this season? What have you been learning along the way?
Pressing on,
