Owner or Ambassador?

Ownership parenting is not overtly selfish, abusive, or destructive; it involves a subtle spirit in thinking and motivation that puts us on a trajectory that leads our parenting far away from God’s design. This shift is subtle because it takes place in little, mundane moments of family life – moments that seem so small and insignificant that the people in the middle of them are unaware of the movement that has taken place.

Ownership parenting is motivated and shaped by what parents want for their children and from their children. It is driven by a vision of what we want our children to be and what we want our children to give us in return. It seems right, it feels right, and it does many good things, but it is foundationally misguided and misdirected and will not produce what God intends in the lives that he has entrusted to our care.

Good parenting, which does what God intends it to do, begins with this radical and humbling recognition that our children don’t actually belong to us. Rather, every child in every home, everywhere on the globe, belongs to the One who created him or her. Children are God’s possessions (Ps.127:3) for His purpose. That means that His plan for parents is that we would be His agents in the lives of these ones that have been formed into His image and entrusted to our care.

Next week we will be looking at the Ambassador style of parenting. Till such time let us introspect honestly if we are into Ownership parenting style, and ask the Lord to help us overcome it. God be with you!