A good family requires more than money in the bank, an acceptable neighborhood, or topnotch schools. Unconditional love is the cornerstone for a strong family unit, and parents must intentionally build this love into their family relationships.
Heart-wrenching letters from pastor-parents repeat a recurring theme. To them, many parenting problems seem to revolve around their fishbowl visibility in the church and community. Though ministry sometimes places constraints on families, it also offers benefits not always available to other children. The privilege list may include tight family bonds, opportunities to meet people they otherwise wouldn't, an extended family among the people of God and flexible time with their parents. Underscoring these benefits helps children realize that lack of privacy and other sacrifices will always be part of life.
Help your PKs stay well-adjusted to ministry life by:
- Pleasing the people who matter most—your spouse and kids.
- Getting your family in tune with God.
- Reding faith to your children by telling them how God is working in the church and your family.
- Refusing to blame problems on the ministry.
- Viewing your family as a gift from God.
- Focusing on the present. When you're home, make that your priority.
- Keeping yourself in parental training for life.
- Involving your kids in ministry; avoid extremes of intense or no involvement.
- Building family into your schedule
