But first you have to look at one of my babies………….
Interestingly, during Black History Month, I learned that my third great-grandfather helped his 15 year old escape slavery. The escape was successful and that 15 year old traveled from North Carolina to Rhode Island to establish a family line that is alive and well today! These exciting revelations have shifted my perspective as a parent.
Initially, I tried to imagine letting my 15 year old off into the night to independently pursue and secure his freedom from the institution of slavery. The thought of not knowing how he might fare or if he would survived, was unfathomable. Like, no matter how big of a lunch box and how many changes of underwear I send him off with, they could never sustain him through a complete fugitive operation. Lots of shudders……………………. at first. But then I was reminded: parenting is not an extended, expensive, exasperating unpaid babysitting assignment. My husband and I are called to train a child in the way that he should go.* We are pouring into him everything we have been given so that he can accomplish the purposes that God has designed him for.** If fifteen is not too young to step into destiny, then we had better make sure that we are not messing around with his training.
Prayer:
Lord, please help us to trust You, fully, with our childrens’ destiny. Give us the courage to grant the right amount of freedom, to raise accountability and standards, and to empower them to move in affirmation, wisdom and instruction. Faith in You has been the pillar that has sustained our family. It is also the greatest asset we can transfer to our children. Please help us to continue to contend earnestly for it.****
*Proverbs 22:6
**Deuteronomy 6:6-7
***Jude 3
blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen 