Ultimately, our children belong to God. We are stewards, not saviors. That truth can be both terrifying and freeing. It means we pray more than we preach. It means we trust the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot.

To every parent raising a bold-hearted kid who challenges bedtime prayers and asks hard questions in the grocery store checkout line—keep going.

I told my friend that if I take credit for anything, it’s for this: I prayed. I prayed hard, every single day, through tears and exhaustion, through silence and sobs. I prayed for my children’s hearts, their futures, their friends, their spouses, their jobs, and all the decisions I’d never be able to control. I trusted God to step in and handle the pieces I couldn’t fix — and He did.

I wanted the boys to think and pray about their future careers and make plans for them. Doesn’t every parent? Let’s face it—when you’re the child of a planner you have no choice. My kids would make plans for their future.

Susanna Wesley was the mother of John and Charles Wesley, who are credited for founding the Methodist movement.

It was love at first sight when I looked over and saw my newborn son for the first time. I thought, "That's my baby?" I kept thinking, “I...