We’ve all heard the idiom, “Hindsight is 20/20.” It implies that it’s easier to clearly understand an event or situation in the past after it’s already happened.

Well, looking back, now with three adult children and five grandchildren, there’s a few things that are much clearer to me now. I could list a bunch but let’s stick with these:

1. Be Present, Not in a Hurry

We rush through every day, waiting for the time that our kids can fend for themselves. Then we look forward to the day that we can have normal conversations with them. We can’t wait for them to become adults and think and do things for themselves and before we know it, they’ve left our home and we say, “Where did all the time go?”

We rush our kids to get up, rush them out the door, we rush them to practice, missing those moments to breathe and really notice our kids. They try to have conversations with us, but we’re rushing to work, rushing to hit deadlines, in a hurry to get to an appointment… and this can easily happen every day.

You know who was never in a hurry? Jesus. Slow down and savor the moments. Listen to hear, not to respond. Our lives are woven together in a series of events creating the memories we will share with our kids as they grow. Make them count.

2. Children Can Become Idols

Our children indeed are a blessing from the Lord. A reward! A gift! We are blessed to have them. But they can become idols. We can treasure them above God. Our Lord knew that we could become that way when He said, “...whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37 ESV)

Read that passage again. Arrows serve one purpose—to be shot. Our children, like arrows, are meant to be released. We are stewards of our children, preparing them, like an arrow to fly!

3. Jesus Loves Them More

We must trust the work of God in the lives of our children. Do you compare your parenting skills to other moms or dads? I must confess, I do. Did I do enough? That one question can haunt me. It may do the same for you. That is a heavy burden to carry. The thought that it is all dependent upon us on what our children will become can be overwhelming.

Yes, all of this matters. However, we are only a part. We must also trust in the mighty hand of God to mold and shape our children's lives.

We can trust Christ will do these things because He loves our children more than we do! After all, He created them for a relationship with Him.

4. And Above All, Pray

We can get so caught up in all the things we “have” to do to make sure our children are provided for, protected, and healthy, that we forget the most important and powerful resource we have as parents—direct access to God through prayer.

We must never underestimate the power of prayer. Pray for your children. Pray for them regularly. Cover them in prayer.

This is a portion from a letter Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr on the beaches of Ecuador, wrote to his parents when he told them he was going. Recalling Psalms 127:3-5a he wrote;

So be present and slow down. Don’t hurry those precious days that you have your children with you.

Love them completely as a gift to be treasured, but not above God. Knowing that you are stewarding them only for a while.

Remember that God loves them more and trust that He will act. Cover them in prayer regularly and with the mighty arms of prayer, pull back that bowstring and let your children fly!