As parents, we pride ourselves in providing for the various needs of our children—be they physical, economical, educational, social, or spiritual. We do our best to give our kids the best. Some might call it “spoiling”—we would like to think of it as good parenting.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But, how do we as parents move from being a benevolent provider in all manners of life for our children, to being more of an interested bystander?
It would seem that a good way to do this is to give children responsibility as they are ready. That’s easy to say when they are young and eager to learn to tie their shoes, help with chores, keep their room clean, and perform those “duties” that are fun in nature—at least the first time around. But, what do we do as our children get older and we are faced with decisions about letting our kids go to the movies on their own, choosing their own bedtime, and getting the keys to the car?
Some of us would like to have a clear Biblical mandate on when kids can do what. We would love to have chiseled in stone as to when our little girl can go to a sleepover at a friend’s house or when our son can go on a bike ride on his own. Sorry, but there doesn’t seem to be direct answers to those concerns in Scripture. God didn’t make it easy for us!
What God did do was give us Pentecost. He gave the power of the Spirit to His people. Jesus had gone to heaven, and the disciples and the other followers of Jesus were left on their own. God sent them His Spirit to help them, to guide them, to give them a sense of purpose and direction. These children of God did wonderful things through the power of the Spirit!
And so can our children! That same Spirit of God comes to all of God’s children, be they young or old, and empowers them to do great and wonderful things. God the Father has the unique ability and knowledge to give each of us spiritual responsibility at just the right times in our lives so that we can serve, grow in our own faith, and pass the faith along to others.
This article was reprinted from the May 2007 issue of Family Matters, a parent newsletter published by the LutheranChurchMissouri Synod.
Dora Hyslop