Reflection 36: The Gift of Grandparents and the Call to Courageous Parenting

A few weekends ago, we let our kids spend time with their grandparents.

If we are being honest, that is not always easy for us. As parents, we like control. We like knowing what our children are exposed to, how their day is structured, and what influences are shaping them. Letting go of that, even for a weekend, can feel uncomfortable.

But it is also good for us.

It is a humbling reminder that we are not always going to control every environment our children enter. As they grow, they will step into situations we cannot manage, conversations we are not part of, and influences we cannot fully filter.

And in a way, that is part of the formation process for us as parents too. It teaches us trust.

At the same time, it deepens our gratitude.

We are incredibly thankful for our parents and the way they respect the boundaries we have set. They do not overindulge. They do not disregard our routines. They make an effort to honor how we are trying to raise our children.

That is not something we take lightly.

Because the truth is, not every parent has that experience. Many families struggle with boundaries being ignored or undermined, especially when it comes to things like routines, discipline, and values.

So this is, in many ways, a thank you.

A thank you for supporting us.
A thank you for respecting our role as parents.
A thank you for helping us raise our children with intention.

At the same time, this experience has made something else very clear.

Parenting today requires courage.

We are raising children in a world that constantly pulls at their attention and formation. Screens are everywhere. Overconsumption is normalized. Values are often shaped more by culture than by truth.

It would be easy to give in. To hand over a device for convenience. To loosen boundaries to avoid conflict. To follow what everyone else is doing simply because it is easier.

But easier does not mean better.

Boundaries are not about control. They are about formation.

They help shape how our children think, how they interact, how they build relationships, and ultimately how they understand the world. Limiting screens, encouraging conversation, protecting routines, and setting clear expectations are not about restricting our children. They are about guiding them.

Children need structure.
They need discipline.
They need consistency.

And most importantly, they need parents who are willing to do the hard work.

Because parenting is not about creating a comfortable life. It is about forming souls.

Our children are not just being raised for success in this world. They are being raised for eternity.

That means teaching them how to love, how to sacrifice, how to communicate, and how to seek Christ in their daily lives. It means helping them become people who can build real relationships, think clearly, and live with purpose.

The world is not always going to support that kind of formation. In many ways, it moves in the opposite direction.

Which is why parents today have to be intentional.

We have to be willing to say no when it is unpopular.
We have to be willing to set boundaries when it is uncomfortable.
We have to be willing to lead, even when it feels countercultural.

Because at the end of the day, everything else fades.

We will not take our careers, our possessions, or our accomplishments with us into eternity.

But we pray we will bring our children.

That is the goal.

That is the responsibility.

And that is why courageous parenting matters.