Christian parents can combat worry with the truth that their children belong to God

In his mini series Robin Barfield has reminded us of things we should not forget as Christian parents - In this his last installment he reminds us that our children belong to God and how transformative that is to how we parent them

Everyone is full of parenting advice. I ended up watching a silly video on social media of a woman knocking on a stranger’s door to criticise how his daughter was dressed. It may well have been fake! But everywhere we look, people have opinions about every aspect of parenting, from education to eating to sleeping. This can fill us with tension and anxiety. What do people think of me based on my child? This can be paralysing for us.

have I given my child too much? Too little? Have I paid them too much attention? Too little? Have I spoken too harshly to them, or should I be stricter?

Add to this the fear that we might mess up our children (or knowing that we almost certainly will), and we end up worrying about everything – have I given my child too much? Too little? Have I paid them too much attention? Too little? Have I spoken too harshly to them, or should I be stricter? I am very often aware of how my sin is clearly on display in family life through the way I respond and react. I pass on my flaws with unerring ease.

Philip Larkin wrote a rude poem about the mess parents make of parenting, entitled ‘This Be the Verse’. His conclusion was:

Man hands on misery to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And don’t have any kids yourself.

That’s one solution. But perhaps it is ……