Key Bible Verse: Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands (Psalm 127:4-5). Bonus Reading: Psalm 127:1—5

As a husband and the father of a brood of young children, I'll be honest with you: in the midst of my parental day, I sometimes dream of things I'd rather be doing right now. Between doling outinnumerable sippy cups freshly stocked with "shoosh" (or "juice," as adults call it), picking up the crayons that litter our kitchen and family room floor, or cleaning bathrooms and changing poopers, I entertain fantasies of what it'd be like to scream down a winding trail on my mountain bike, read Flannery O'Connor in a quiet, dimly lit café somewhere, or just have long periods free of "Daddy will you … ?" for concentration on writing. I'm sure you harbor similar dreams.

But lately, I've been struck by the truth that there's no more substantive, revolutionary task than parenting a child. We tend to think it's politicians, actors, musicians, and writers who hold most of the power. But their influence is minimal compared to a parent's. Those who are begetting, raising, and molding members of the next generation forever change the balance of history. The world will be a very different place—for good or bad—because a parent is or is not parenting a child.

My Response: How well am I utilizing my "parent power"?

Thought to Apply: Parents play a role second only to that of the Holy Spirit in building the spiritual foundation of their children's lives.