The goal of parenting is to work yourself out of a job. We want to send off our children knowing that they have everything they need to do what God has called them to do. Parents must remember the gospel throughout this process: it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us and it is His goodness that leads to repentance. Parents who follow Christ's example will correct with the gospel of grace as part of the message.
Tripp gives parents 4 verbs to keep in mind:
- Accept: Not acceptance of sin, but acceptance that leads to change
- Incarnate: Reveal Christ (His love, patience, gentleness, forgiveness. See col 3:12-14)
- Identify: We share a fallen nature with our teenagers and we share progressive growth unto holiness with them
- Enter - Participating in a teen's life by listening and asking good questions
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the LORD and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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