Ministries
Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially when we strive to shape our children with eternity in mind. The world constantly offers conflicting advice. So what is the right way? Should we be helicopter parents, hovering to protect our kids from every challenge? Or should we take a free-range approach, letting them navigate life’s obstacles all on their own? Could there be a parenting style somewhere in the middle with a more balanced approach? Yes, I believe there is!
Lighthouse parenting offers a balanced approach, combining the best aspects of both styles. As Barritt Mosbacker explains, “Parenting often feels like navigating uncharted waters, especially when life’s storms hit our children. Our instinct is to rescue them, but what if our role isn’t to shield them from hardship, but to guide them through it? What if, instead of being their lifeboat, we became their lighthouse?”
Dr. Mosbacker explores this idea further in his article Lighthouse Parenting: Raise Resilient Kids by Guiding Them Through Life’s Storms. Similarly, Dr. Tim Elmore, founder and president of Growing Leaders, challenges parents with an important question: “Are you doing a better job of protecting your kids from the world instead of preparing them to live in it?” In his article From Helicopter Parent to Lighthouse Parent, Dr. Elmore offers five practical scenarios to help parents embrace this approach and raise resilient, confident children.
As parents, our calling isn’t to eliminate every struggle our children face but to equip them to navigate life’s challenges with wisdom, resilience, and faith. Being a lighthouse parent means standing firm – offering guidance, not control; providing support, not rescue.
So, here’s the challenge: Take a step back and evaluate – are you shielding your children from life’s hardships, or are you preparing them to face them with confidence? This week, look for opportunities to guide rather than rescue, to lead rather than shield. Trust that as you shine the light, your children will learn to steer their own course, anchored in faith and wisdom.
You are not alone in this journey. God has entrusted you with this role, and He will equip you for it. As you purposefully guide your kids in this way, you are laying Faithful Foundations and building a spiritual heritage for your family that will last. So, be encouraged and keep shining!
