Youth Ministry is Great Birth Control

It's not that I don't want kids, it's really not (mom & mother-in-law, do not worry).  I really do want children of my own, and I'm looking forward to being a mom.  It's just that being in student ministry has made me reticent.

And it's not even that kids end up selfish, on drugs, trading sexual favors in middle school and more worried about their hair than starving orphans in Haiti.  It's more that some of these kids have parents who love them, who love Jesus and serve Him well.  It's more hearing the issues that parents face today (from 'How do I approach the subject of a letter I found that my daughter wrote about birthday sex?' to 'Is it OK for my 15 year old daughter to date an 18 year old senior?') and wondering how I'd ever deal with that if I were in their shoes.  It's more the fact that if these parents, with their long history of life with Jesus are wrestling with these issues, then how the crap am I ever going to raise kids that aren't going to take me onto Oprah? (or rather, whatever show takes Oprah's place)

Hear me out  - I'm really not anti-momhood, nor do I expect life to be easy just because my husband and I are Christians.  All I'm really saying is that parenthood is daunting work that deserves every ounce of energy, prayer, grace, love and patience that a mom or dad can give.  I have a great respect for good parents - moms and dads who love radically and live a life that they'd be proud for their kids to follow.  I have met a few exceptional moms in my day, and I only hope to become a fraction of the woman that they are.  I'm just glad that I have a bit of time to grow before I'm the one calling up the student ministry staff and asking for some perspective on hard questions.