Let Go and Let God… or something like that

In my last post I talked about Millennials, and the perceptions many of them hold about the church. As a balance it is only fitting that we Boomers take stock in how we communicate our love and concern for the things of God to those we love…our children. As the adage goes, it can be hard to “let go and let God” have control. We often want to “fix it.” It has been a tough lesson for me to learn (still learning) and one that I do address in my own story, Go Ask Your Mother… A Father’s Story.

At a recent performance of my story in Southern California, I was privileged to hear from a parent that was able to come to terms with this very struggle:

“Chuck gave a perfect testimony of what the reality is of parenting and spiritual guidance. I came away realizing my (God-given) responsibility to guide my son needs to be tempered by his own individual walk with Christ, not by my worry to see his bottom firmly seated in a pew each Sunday, or chasing around with a youth group. Neither appeals to him at the moment and I KNOW forcing a teenager to go to church will not bring him closer to God. I also know I don’t want him to be the prodigal son returning after wreaking havoc on himself…so Chuck’s stories sent me home feeling encouraged to give my son some space and just talk with him right now rather than be heavy-handed. I did go home to have a short chat with him about it. He expressed that he does pray, and he likes our church…he doesn’t want to try other churches. So, my husband and I need to pray on it and listen for what the Spirit guides for encouraging growth in the boy. Ooops. Young man.  Chuck’s message was heard at our home and the timing, of course, was PERFECT. If I’m the only parent who came away from that message encouraged and not pushing away one teenage boy…it was worth his travel from Oregon and I thank him.”

As a parent of 3 boys I have lived the story this parent shares x3. As I say repeatedly when I share my story, “these stories aren’t finished yet… there is hope!”