Good morning from Colorado, where the peaks are tall and the truth sets us free! Today is Tuesday, May 19th, and my faith is secured in Christ Jesus! Thanks for stopping by my blog as we look at “Parenting with a Compass.”
Yesterday, I talked about my brother Butch being a “feather in the wind” because he lacked the support system needed to navigate life. It makes me wonder: What does it actually look like to parent with purpose? When our own parents are just trying to survive—working 16-hour days or lost in their own distractions—they often forget that their primary job is to hand us a map and a compass before we ever leave the house.
Healthy parenting isn’t just about making sure a child “behaves” or stays out of trouble; it’s about preparing them for the people they will encounter. It’s teaching them that their voice is a tool, not a weapon to be suppressed. A parent with purpose sits their child down and says, “This is how you spot a person who doesn’t have your best interests at heart,” and “This is how you say ‘no’ when someone crosses a line.” They provide the “silent middle” with words so the child doesn’t have to lash out in hopeless silence.
Butch had the “stadium light” energy to go far, but he didn’t have the steering wheel of discernment. If he had been taught that his feelings were valid and that he had the right to protect his own peace, his story might have had a different ending. Healthy parenting is the brave act of training a child to be independent of you, so that when the “shield” of the family is eventually gone, they aren’t left exposed to the storm.
The Takeaway for Us
- The Goal of Independence: The ultimate success of parenting is raising a person who can make wise choices without a protector standing over them.
- Naming the World: Children need a vocabulary for life’s dangers. When we refuse to talk about “people” and “boundaries,” we leave our children to learn the hard way through pain and regret.
- Parenting the Soul: It is not enough to keep a child fed and clothed; we must keep their spirit anchored in the truth of who they are in God.
Community Challenge
Did you have to learn about “people” and “boundaries” the hard way? This week, readers are challenged to identify one lesson they wish they had been taught as a child. How can you share that wisdom with a young person in your life today so they don’t have to be a “feather in the wind”?
Scripture & Prayer
- Scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
- Prayer: Father, prayer is offered for the parents who are currently in the thick of the “long game.” Wisdom is asked for those trying to provide a compass while they are still healing themselves. Thank You for being the ultimate Parent who never leaves us without guidance. Amen.
The Spiritual Seal
Remember: A compass is only useful if a child knows how to read it. One must realize that “parenting with purpose” is about giving a child the gift of discernment so they never have to bite back at a world that refuses to hear them. God is the anchor for every drifting soul. See you tomorrow!
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