Parenthood

I came across an interesting post today about Jay Bakker, son of Jim and Tammy Faye of PTL fame. I guess he's doing a show on the sundance channel about the church he's pastoring in a downtown Atlanta bar. From all appearances what he's doing is really cool. He's reaching out to the outsiders and marginalized in his community with a message of unconditional love and exceptance.

The post talks a little about the show and the little glimpses within the show of Jay's relationship with his parents. Pretty interesting...not surprising...really sad.

It's amazing how parents can do a number on their kids. Whether your christians or non-christians, Televangelists or satanist (sometimes the lines are blurred). As parents we can seriously damage our kids.

In this season of advent, it makes me appreciate the job Mary and Joseph did raising Jesus. They didn't have an easy job, in fact it probably seemed like the whole world was stacked against them. I imagine Mary and Joseph didn't get much support from family and friends. Not to long after Jesus birth they had to high tail it out of Israel to Egypt. Through all their difficulties they found the way to raise the savior of the world. I'm pretty sure they took their calling to parenthood serious. And I'm glad they did.

I'm glad my parents did too. I am so blessed to have two parents, that through their own difficulties found a way to raise me. They weren't perfect, but I remember more good then bad, more positive then negative. I remember feeling loved and safe. They did an awesome job and I hope that I am doing the same with my kids. I love my kids (Haylie and Conner) more then anything and I hope that as I struggle through life's difficulties they will come out unscathed and that their memories of childhood will be as pleasant as mine and they too can look forward to one day being parents.