Parenting isn’t just a role — it’s a calling. When I say that, most people feel like it’s a calling because “my heart told me I should do this.” Or, “I like it” or “It’s what I’m good at.” But that’s not a calling. It’s certainly a worthy and honorable desire to want to be a parent, however, if you have kids or grandkids or serve as a guardian — you have a divine assignment to shape eternal destinies.

One day, my oldest son, still in elementary school, walked into my office with a library book. He’d started picking out his own reads, and he was halfway through this one. “Dad, what does this mean?” he asked, pointing to a cartoon. It showed a boy telling a girl he wanted to kiss other boys. My son had never encountered this idea. I was stunned. It was time to visit the principal and find out what was in that library — and why it was being handed to my son.

At Priority Living, through The Master’s Program, we talk about calling as more than faithfulness in roles. Parenting isn’t just providing food, shelter, or soccer practice. It’s about fruitfulness  — loving God, loving people, and making disciples, starting with your own children. But, too many of us miss this.

The problem is, we get so focused on giving our kids “better than we had.” We pour everything into sports, activities, or academics, thinking that’s enough. We’re so busy building their resumes that we neglect their spiritual roots. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 is clear: “These commandments… teach them diligently to your children, when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.” That’s not a suggestion — it’s a mandate. Yet screens, teachers, and coaches often outtalk us, shaping our kids’ worldview while we’re distracted.

So, how do you navigate parenting as a calling? Here are three steps to anchor your approach.

Step 1: Dream with a Plan. Envision your kids’ faith in their 20s and beyond. What do you want them to say about God? Create daily rhythms to introduce and nurture their relationship with Him: prayer at breakfast, Bible stories at bedtime. In TMP, we call this time leadership: prioritize what matters eternally.

Step 2: Be Their Chief Spiritual Officer. You’re their first pastor, sage, and guide. Lead them to scripture, spark curiosity about God’s Word, and teach them to pray and listen for His voice. Every teacher, coach, or screen must align with your message — or they’re not partners, they’re competitors. Vet their influences relentlessly.

Step 3: Set Annual Spiritual Themes. Match their physical growth with spiritual milestones. For preteens, a program like Passport 2 Purity can guide them through puberty with faith. Each year, pick a focus — gratitude, courage, service — and weave it into their lives.

Here’s a gut check: Are screens or teachers filibustering your influence? How many hours do they get with your kids? Do you want TikTok or a secular teacher raising them? Take radical steps if needed. Meet every teacher before school starts — bonus points for the principal. Or, consider limiting devices entirely until adulthood. Low screen use builds self-worth and protects their hearts.

But, maybe you’re struggling with the enemy’s lie – “it’s too late.”  It is not too late!

There’s a married couple I know who are TMP grads. The two of them spent much of their young married lives carousing and loud fighting. While their kids were growing up, the husband told me he had to tell his kids too many times, “I’m really sorry for what you saw from your Daddy last night.” God got a hold of them both in a big way. Their now adult children have been able to watch the transformation. Today, they continue to actively impact their children and grandchildren’s spiritual lives.

You don’t have to be a perfect parent, but you do have to be proactive. Remember, credibility and trust are built by getting better. We’ll trust any brand or person who steadily improves. In TMP, we teach stewardship, not just of money, but of influence and time. Your kids are your first disciples. Design your parenting to maximize fruit.

This week, take 30 minutes. List your kids’ key influences: teachers, coaches, screens. Ask, “Are these partners in my calling, or competitors?” Journal one step to reclaim your role as their spiritual guide. Pray for wisdom.

When I met that principal, her First Baptist Church umbrella sat by her desk as the, “I’m on your side dog whistle,” but her words hit hard: “I don’t choose what’s in the library. It’s mandated.” That was my wake-up call. We can’t outsource our kids’ faith to youth pastors or teachers. Without protection and proactive disciple-making, they’ll find another faith — because we didn’t make it matter. Your calling as a parent isn’t to build a perfect garden. It’s to plant seeds that bear eternal fruit. Weed out the thorns. Keep the mice and snakes out. Pray to God for sun and rain. Then see that they bear fruit. Start today — your kids are watching.

In your corner,
Jeff

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