Surround your kids with caring adults

I’ve said it for years, “Friends are like buttons on an elevator, they will either take you up or take you down.”  As a 'recovering youth pastor' of 17 years, one of the huge deals that teenagers face is the people that they associate with.  We would pound it into their heads that it is critical that you surround yourself with the right people.

Now I lead a church (best church in my opinion) and Pam and I have 4 kids.  That truth translates from youth ministry to parenting as well.  Here’s what I know, I want to surround my kids with every opportunity to succeed.  Too many parents try to prepare the road for the kid rather than the kid for the road.  I want as many positive role models as possible surrounding our kids.  That means, we become intentional on the environments where people (good people) echo our values and can speak truth and life into our kids.  As parents, we try to be careful on who we allow into influence our lives … it’s our role.  As parents, we protect, provide and propel our kids.

On Saturday, our 12 year old manchild, (gonna be 13 next month) was asked to help one of our family friends work on his basement.  I jumped at the chance.  Do you know why?  Any opportunity to have someone else pour the same values into our kids, I’m all for it.  Sometimes kids get numb to what we say.  But if you surround yourself with families that have similar values, you are doubling the opportunity for your kids success.

So today (SATURDAY), Drew is nailing 2 x 4’s in Steve’s basement.  I have a feeling, Steve is going to encourage and speak life and Godly wisdom into Drew.  I’m all for it! 

Take a “mind poll” of who your closest friends are.  They should be the ones that are watching your kids, encouraging your kids, and yes, even pouring life into your kids.  Us parents, we need to stick together.