No Regrets?

At our Family Life Meeting Saturday night, Mark Prater addressed the unspoken fear of every parent. From the moment we get our first glimpse of our children, whether it is in a grainy image on an ultrasound screen, as a tiny baby is handed to us in a delivery room, or our eyes meeting the confused stare of a little child brought to us in adoption, we feel a weight of responsibility settle on our unprepared shoulders.

What if we fail?

Mark made it clear with truth from God’s word and examples from his own life that failure is part of the parenting process. And we will all look back and say we wish we had known and done then what we know and would do differently now. But the difference in parenting is not between those who fail and those who don’t. It is between those who depend on their own efforts and wisdom, and those who depend on the grace and mercy of God. Mark shared a faith-building insight from Ted Tripp which should give all of us courage to parent and confidence in the One who is our own unfailing Father.

“Ultimately, you must recognize that in all your efforts at child-rearing, you are at the mercy of God. Your children will never come to faith in Christ because you got everything right in the child-rearing department. If they come to know and love God, you will stand in awe of a God who has mercy on children even though their parents fail.”

(From Hints For Parents, 48)

Mark’s message will be accessible here in a few days.

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.