Recovery from Strict Christian Parents

Two days ago, Bill and I were watching a program on television. The group of people who were on the show had overcome problems in life. As each person was singled out by the camera, a caption was shown telling where each individual was in life and where they had been. The problems that had been overcome were alcoholism, drug addiction, loss of a loved one and then, much to my shock, I saw "...Recovery from Strict Christian Parents."

 I have been unable to forget the image of the young man above the title, "...Recovery from Strict Christian Parents." What happened in his childhood home that made him feel that he had recovered from his parents' Christian life? The fleeting moment seems to be seared into my memory. What is the whole story behind the caption that thousands or millions of television viewers saw? Looking back into my own parenting past, I can honestly say that I didn't always set a Christ-like example. However, I did try to follow the relationship model that Jesus set for all of us.

 

 Jesus loves children and calls them to him. In Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; and Luke 18:15-17, the disciples rebuked those who had brought little children to Jesus so he could place his hands on them and pray for them. When Jesus heard this he was indignant and said," Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." So as we raise our children, who is the teacher? I learned to see the world with a child's eyes as I raised my daughters. I will never forget the lesson my four year old, Ashley, taught me one spring.

 

My mom and dad are gardeners. Every spring they plant and tend a small garden. My four year old was outside looking at Grandma and Grandpa's garden. When she walked up to Mom and me, she looked at Mom and said,"Mam-maw, I like your green flowers." Mom and I glanced at each other because we knew there weren't any green flowers in the garden. Mom looked at my daughter and said," Show me the flowers you were looking at." As I trailed along behind Mom and Ashley, I was puzzled, but curious. Ashley led us to the row of baby cabbage plants, pointed her finger at the plants, and said, "There Mam-maw, see? Pretty green flowers." The baby green cabbage plants did resemble irregular green stars against the dark, tilled soil of the garden. What a lesson in looking at the world through a child's eyes! Mom and I would never have learned this if one of us had said, "No there isn't. There aren't any green flowers in the garden. You're wrong, those are cabbage plants;" My mother also taught me a lesson in parenting by saying, "Show me."

 

Jesus told the disciples that if you want to receive the kingdom of God, you have to be like a child. Now that doesn't mean temper tantrums, selfishness, or the other behaviors parents have to deal with. He was talking about being trusting, loving, and seeing the world in a new way. Jesus wants us to have a trusting, loving relationship with our children. Further evidence of this is to be found in Ephesians 6:1-4. Children are to obey and honor their parents, BUT (capitalization is mine) parents aren't to exasperate their children. We are supposed to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord, with love.

 

Jesus loves us so much that he obediently allowed himself to be crucified on a cross for us - the ultimate Father and Son relationship. Scripture also shows me a grieving mother, watching her beaten, bleeding, and abused son struggle to carry a cross to the hilltop reserved for crucifixion of criminals. A son she knew to be innocent. A man who also had a sign associated with him that read, "This is Jesus, The King of the Jews"

 

Relationships are so tricky. I did the best I could as a parent, I'm sure Mary, and Joseph did their best as parents. What about the Christian parents of a young man who appeared on television with the caption"...Recovered from Strict Christian Parents"?