Playground Training Ground

I’ve been sending kids back to school, every August, for 24 years. This year back to school comes a little later in the month. I am finished with the K-12 rat race as my last kiddo starts a new chapter of his life in college.

The K-12 chapter lasts a long, long time. If you are in the trenches of shopping at the big-box store and if your hand hurts from filling out all that back-to-school paperwork, I understand. If you are ready for the kids to go back to school for the sake of your sanity, you are not alone. And If you are sobbing because summer is over, I get that too.

Back to school shouldn’t be so emotional. But it is. Moms and Dads are kissing their kids good-bye. Leaving them. Letting them go. Happy but sad. Confident yet fearful. It’s a roller coaster of emotions for our children too. They know they are heading into the unknown. Even if your kids are back-to-school pros, they are starting something new – again. Every year.

One day, you’ll be finished with the K-12 rat race too. And your kids will be running a different race on their own. Contrary to what we really want to believe, school is not a playground. It’s a training ground. And sometimes, it’s a battleground. As parents, it is up to us to make sure they are equipped to train and be prepared to engage in life’s battles.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

In the way he should go…

The English phrase “the way” indicates a road, path or journey. There are two key Bible passages in the New Testament that also refer to the way and reveal what that road is.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Mathew 7:13-14

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

It seems simple. We are responsible for leading our children down the right path. The right path is not easy, but it leads to life. Jesus is that Life.

Not so simple.

Jesus’ words teach us that his way is not the most popular. Yet we are tempted to keep up, and make sure our kids keep up with… what’s popular. We enter through the wide gate and walk the way that is easy. Most everyone else is walking the same path. It must be right.

Wrong.

Remember, there are only a few that will enter through the narrow gate.

It’s a battle we all fight at some point; filling our life and the lives of our children with stuff that gets in the way of a strong relationship with Jesus. Our hope for success quickly becomes a hindrance to the Savior. That’s because we are putting our hope in the wrong stuff.

Lead the right way.

The world will tell you it’s the stuff that dreams are made of. Academic achievement. Talent and ability. Recognition and fame. Financial and material gain.  And by the way – failure is not an option.

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:36

Our children are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13-14) Each with unique gifts, talents, and purpose. It is important that we cultivate them into the person God intended. But what good is it if in our quest to make them successful, we enter the wrong gate and lead them in the way of destruction?

The point is, the aforementioned stuff that dreams are made of – do not lead to Jesus.

So, you have to ask yourself the question, am I training my child in the way he should go?

I hope to see you on the narrow road. It may be less traveled, but you, nor will your children, ever be alone.

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Something to think about.

I’ve not parented perfectly. And I have learned more than a few things the hard way. As an encouragement to you, I am just sharing a few training-ground tips to help you on the road to Life.

• Pray over your children and let them know you are praying for them. If you don’t know where to begin, pick up a copy of The Power of a Praying Parent.
• Pace yourself and your children. Don’t take on so much that you are squeezing in God and stressing out your family.
• Pick your friends, and your children’s friends wisely. Surround yourself with people on the narrow road. Be an encouragement to each other and hold each other accountable.
• Participate in worship and other church activities to help you and your children grow in Christ. And I’m not just talking about every once in a while! Would you just show up to practice once a month and expect to be at the top of your game?
• Put into practice God’s Word. Read it. Study it. Live it. And help your children do the same.
• Pay attention to the Holy Spirit. Be in an attitude of prayer, even when you are not on your knees. When the Spirit leads you, listen. He will guide you as you lead your children.