You know, I got this request from a girl who wanted to guest post for me. I went to check out her site and found some really amazing writing that made me take a long hard look at myself and how I live my faith. Imagine my surprise when I went to the About the Author page on A Heart for My Shepherd and found that the girl that had emailed me and the girl making me think long and hard about life and its meaning was sixteen years old.

So, when she asked me what I wanted her to guest post about it was a pretty big no-brainer. I wanted her to write about how she turned out to be such a God-loving and well-rounded teenager.

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It’s an interesting thing to be a pastor’s kid. Mostly because my supposed reputation precedes me. They say pk’s are the worst of them all, you know. Some people even give me strange looks when I tell them my father is a pastor, as if they’re making a mental note to “watch out for that one.” But many soon learn that when it comes to my brothers and me, we’re not what you might call your “typical preacher’s kids.” Or at least, that’s what everyone tells us.

I suppose part of it has been growing up home schooled, where studying biblical theology as a part of your everyday school work isn’t much of an oddity. Yet it isn’t simply the books that have influenced me to be the person that I am today. If I really had to give someone a good, solid reason for my outlook on life, the first one that comes to mind would be my parents.

Besides a ton of prayer, there really isn’t one specific aspect of my parent’s methods that can be singled out and labeled as the answer. I honestly believe that it has more to do with a lot of little things, rather than one big one. And since I should probably refrain from writing an entire book here (hehehe), I can’t possibly share it all.

But with so many things that could be explained, what do I say? First off, I need to make sure you understand one simple thing: my parents aren’t perfect. Oh, and while we’re at it, neither am I! This is important to keep in mind. First, because it gives you the realization that we’re all fallen human beings here and it’s only by the grace of God that we can succeed in anything. And second, because if you did believe that I was perfect, one of my brothers would probably feel the need to persuade you that I’m not… and let me tell you, they have lots of stories!

So with that said, there is one thing that impresses me the most about my parent’s views on rearing my brothers and me, and here it is:

They Have High Expectations

My parents have always had high expectations for us. I don’t mean that they demanded we be geniuses or star athletes, but that they have always expected us to do our best to practice the faith that we profess. As each of us entered the “dreaded teen years,” it was made clear that just because something is considered normal, doesn’t make it right.

Now don’t get me wrong, they well understand the many struggles that are unique to this period of life, but they don’t let that define us. While the world expects us to be authority-rejecting, self-absorbed teenagers, our parents expect us to learn to use God’s word as a guide for our actions and rely on His help in becoming God-honoring young adults.

And true, I don’t always live up to those expectations (I already told you I’m not perfect), but overall it has changed the way that I see myself in this world. I don’t want to waste my teen years simply because it’s the normal thing to do. With the realization that I can’t ever have these years back, it seems a shame to watch them slide down the drain of vain pursuit and do nothing about it.

So when people tell me I’m “different from your average teenager,” I smile and thank God for the conviction and strength to be that way – not to mention His many blessings. I don’t deserve the parents that I have and I certainly don’t deserve the outlook He has gifted me with. All is the result of His abundant grace and love and without Him, I’m simply hopeless, helpless, fallen me. But with Him, I can be an example to those around me and encourage other teens to strive after difference for their Savior.

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” -1 Timothy 4:12

A Million Other Things

Of course, there are a million other things that have shaped me into the person that I am today. Between the Word of God and the work of His Spirit, the wisdom of my parents and the many people who encourage me – not to mention the trials that have shaped and molded my heart – I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the blessings that I have and I anxiously await what the Lord has planned for my future.

You May Also Want To Read:
The Testimony of Teens and a Plea to the Parents