Last week we helped Mallory and our son-in-law Aaron move into their new apartment. It's one of those bittersweet days. That day I realized we blinked and she grew up. Camille graduates from High School this year, and Anna has two more years.  We just attended a family reunion, where nieces and nephews had children of their own; a whole new generation.  Where does the time go?  No one hands us an Owner's Manual when our children are born. We just have to trust God and figure it out. As parents, our most important task, challenge and joy is helping our kids become independently, dependent upon God as they develop their own relationship with the Lord. When they have a strong walk with God it helps every other area and relationship in their lives. Our greatest reward as parents is in seeing glimpses that this is happening! There are many things we've done wrong as parents, but the one thing we did right was helping our kids come to know Jesus personally for themselves. It's been a journey and an accumulation of hundreds of decisions to put the Lord and His priorities first in our family. As "pastors' kids" (PKs), we've tried to make it clear to them that we we're not going to put pressure on them to be perfect "PKs"…and neither was God. We've tried not to force them to do things particularly in their later years, but to steer them in there own decision making process. We have done our best to emphasize that the most important thing is for them to "be" Christians…and live lives that please the Lord. In the end, that's all that matters anyway.  Our kids have not been perfect…and neither have we; but I am not sure we could be any "prouder" of each of them than we are these days. We love our kids and the people they are becoming; and we even like them! There is a great sense of peace in knowing that they are in a good place with God – that indeed they are growing and becoming strong in spirit, they are being filled with wisdom and they are being empowered by the grace of God that is upon them.  Today, if you are raising kids, sending one off to college or letting one fly away from your nest – be encouraged. Rest in the confident knowing that He'll be faithful to reward you and your kids with grace, strength, and wisdom.