Love out of Control

As any parent will note raising a child doesn't come with an instruction manual. The illusion is that after the hard work of guiding the first eighteen years of your child's life you'll box up all concern and hand it off to the next batch of new parents. Your child you believe will have entered a successful carefree adulthood and you can kiss worry goodbye. That's rarely reality. What's more you realize there's no instruction manual for transforming into the parent of a grown child either. Almost instantly you have no control over your adult children. Yet you continue to worry offer unsolicited advice and/or wish to stay more connected than allowed. The relationship becomes more confusing than ever.Parenting is an ancient task for which few of the norms and expectations have changed throughout the centuries. In Love out of Control author Kathleen Phillips examines the lives of characters in the Gospels then takes a step back to consider how gospel-era parents might have reacted to their grown child's actions and adventures. The narratives are told as if the gospel-era parent is discussing a situation with their spiritual director seeking God amid their concern. You're invited to read the gospel parent's tale then use three questions at the end to examine how it relates to your current situation. By relating to other parents' stories and considering one's own may there be peace comfort and hope.