From Pastor Bill

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NEITHER CHILDREN NOR ADULTS

Posted by Dr. Bill Blanchard on

Are you familiar with the phrases “Helicopter Parent” and “Snowplow Parent”?  Helicopter parenting refers to parents who hover over their children in a protective stance, overseeing any and all of their activities.  Snowplow parenting refers to parents who clear all obstacles in their child’s path to success so that they won’t have to encounter failure, frustration, or lost opportunities.   

So, as we have seen in our recent news cycles, these children may get into the elite colleges and universities—the culmination of years of helicoptering and snowplowing at every other level—but then these college freshmen have had to return home because they didn’t have the minimal kinds of adult skills that one needs to be able to cope with the rigors of adulthood in college. 

But then, in addition to this prevention of adulthood, we are also witnessing the disappearance of childhood in our society today.  Children are now being robbed of their innocence and their naivete as they are exposed to mature issues, themes, and experiences long before they are ready. God has placed adults in this world to shelter children from certain facts in life—its mysteries, secrets, contradictions, tragedies, and violence.  Only as children grow into adulthood should these matters be revealed to them in ways that they can assimilate psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, unfortunately, children on TV do not differ significantly in their interests, language, dress, or sexuality from the adults on the show, making the same wisecracks and tossing out the same sexual innuendo.  And as this line between the adult world and the child’s world becomes blurred, childhood disappears.

Adults, parents, and grandparents, I pray that God will help you and me model a proper biblical worldview that will help steer us clear from the disappearance of childhood and the prevention of adulthood with those within our respective circles of influence. 

Devotedly your pastor,

Bill Blanchard

 

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