If you’re anything like our family, there are wide gaps in our kids’ ages. My oldest son is 34. My youngest daughter is 17. I don’t treat my adult kids like I do my teenage daughter, and she reminds me of it all the time—but that’s okay. The reality is all of our kids need to be treated differently. We shouldn’t be giving the same responsibilities and privileges to a 7-year-old as we would a 17-year-old. Explain to little Jenna that our God-given job is to raise them to know Christ the best way we can. Now, that doesn’t mean “the same.” With age comes responsibility. And, with responsibility, trust. And, with trust, more responsibility. While our little ones might not get it now, as they come to know Christ, they’ll know it was God’s plan.

Suggested Reading: Ephesians 2:10