What are the Priorities in Parenting?

The most important things in life can easily get lost in the shuffle. The same applies to parenting—in the crazy that is having kids, school events, homework, sports, friends, etc., a parent can easily lose focus on the bigger picture. Derrick offers a re-focusing based on the teachings about parenting found in the Writings. -Editor

Today I am going to offer a few reflections from New Church teachings about parenthood. Since I am a father, my reflections are probably going to lean that direction. But most of my thoughts are going to apply to all parents.

Parenting Is the Highest Priority

From the Lord's perspective, parenting is the most important work you could be doing.

[Marriage's] use excels all other uses in creation, for by marriage is the orderly propagation of the human race and also of the angelic heaven, which is from the human race. (CL 156)

Propogation is a fancy way of saying reproduction. Marriage is the Lord's mechanism for creating more people. And parenting is the Lord's mechanism for getting more angels.

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Angels and Little Children

Kurt provides a thought provoking quote about the interaction between little children and the angels around them. The innocence and lack of worldly concerns children experience results in a different relationship than adults have with angels - a different but interesting and applicable thought to ponder during the Christmas season. -Editor.

Dear Parents of Young Children,

I believe in angels. I believe my dear wife was and is an angel now too. And I believe she and other angels are around little children like yours. I believe you can feel angels’ presence radiating through a child’s smiling face and see it sparkling in a child’s eyes. And last Sunday the high pitched voices of two little boys saying the Lord’s Prayer in church in the row in front of me pulled at my heart and brought back tender memories of our own family when they were young, as we knelt together in prayer with them.

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