Impaired or Prepared? – Part 1

By Greg Sanders

Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The Bible says a lot about being prepared. We are to live this life preparing for the opportunities that He sends our way and also live preparing for the next life. We are to live, not just preparing ourselves, but also live preparing others that Jesus puts in our life. We all have friends, family, and acquaintances who we can influence and urge to be prepared.

Parents maybe feel this responsibility greater than most. Parents face a huge responsibility to prepare their kids for the rest of their life. Most parents get about 18 years to shape and mold their children before they set off to go to college, begin a career, or move away. Recently while Megan and I were discussing the responsibility we have as parents, she made the statement, “We must make sure we are preparing our daughter and not impairing her.” Now, no good parent would intentionally impair his or her child. We want good for our children. However, I have discovered that sometimes yielding to the pressures of the immediate crises actually impairs children rather than preparing them for the future.

“You can quit when you finish.” My parents said that phrase to me multiple times when I was growing up. When I wanted to quit a school activity they would tell me that was just fine when the school year was over. When I wanted to quit my job, they said that was ok when I finished the week and had secured a new job. That phrase was not what I wanted to hear. I wanted to quit, but that was not an immediate option in my home. I gained a lot of intestinal fortitude by not being allowed to quit. My parents’ response to my momentary issue was preparing me for the moments of adult life when I would be faced with the same desire to quit. Today, not giving up on something and completing a task is a value that has served me well. It would have been easy for my folks to cave to my desperate pleadings to quit. However, by doing so they would have impaired my learning the art and joy of completion.

This week I want to challenge you to make sure you are instilling values that prepare those around you for the most important elements of life. Please join us each day.

Today’s Challenge: When it comes to our kids and to all of our relationships, don’t just ask what is the easiest way to deal with something. Ask what decision is going to prepare them for the future. Pray when crisis comes and ask which decision will lead to a life that is prepared to deal with this challenge when it arises again.

Blessings,

Greg