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Teacher Buys Coffee for a Stranger Short on Cash, Has No Clue It’s Keith Urban

"I said he did look like Keith Urban, he said he was. I didn't believe him."

Mom Sets Toddler in Airport With a Sign She Can’t Read—10 Seconds Later, A Man Scoops Her into His Arms

Everyone but the toddler holding the sign knew what was about to happen...

Fat-Shamed Woman on Flight Praises ‘Hero’ Who Made Bully Switch Seats

"I could feel hot, salty tears coming down my face. I sat and cried silently... I was scrunching myself up against the wall as far as I could. All of a sudden, someone from behind us taps on the guy’s shoulder..."

7 Ways Parents Push Their Kids Away from God Without Knowing It

6. They need to see your struggles and doubts.

You need to be strong for your children. They need to see that you have it together. I understand that. But let’s get real for a second. God is mysterious. Faith is not easy. Some questions about God don’t have easy answers. You have probably experienced days where you considered throwing in the towel.

Join the party. I want you to meet some people. These are the apostles. Yeah, the ones who walked with Jesus and started the church. Yes, they are at the “I have doubted my faith at some point” party.

Parents, your kids have doubts. And they need to see that you have doubts as well. Otherwise, when questions about God come, your kids will either internalize them or turn to another source for answers. Both are bad options and could ultimately lead them to turn away from God.

I am not telling you to have confession hour every night. But there is power in vulnerability and authenticity. Your kids need to know you are human. And they need to know the path to intimacy with God involves seasons of doubt and struggle.

7. They need you to plead for god to build and sustain their faith so that they don’t turn away from God.

Parents, in the journey to lay a foundation of faith for your children, nothing is more important than prayer. Pray for your children. Pray with your children. Every day.

The best part of my day is when my boys lay in bed and ask Tiffani and I to pray for them. I also know a day will probably come when they won’t ask us to pray for them. Instead, we will have to fight through the tension and pray for them even though they don’t necessarily want us to. But we are committed to praying for them every night.

Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey is an editor at Outreach. She’s passionate about fear fighting, freedom writing, and the pursuit of excellence in the name of crucifying perfectionism. Glitter is her favorite color, 2nd only to pink, and 3rd only to pink glitter.

Teacher Buys Coffee for a Stranger Short on Cash, Has No Clue It’s Keith Urban

"I said he did look like Keith Urban, he said he was. I didn't believe him."

Mom Sets Toddler in Airport With a Sign She Can’t Read—10 Seconds Later, A Man Scoops Her into His Arms

Everyone but the toddler holding the sign knew what was about to happen...

Fat-Shamed Woman on Flight Praises ‘Hero’ Who Made Bully Switch Seats

"I could feel hot, salty tears coming down my face. I sat and cried silently... I was scrunching myself up against the wall as far as I could. All of a sudden, someone from behind us taps on the guy’s shoulder..."