3…2…1… no launch. This is the experience of many parents hoping to launch their kids into this wide world. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Craig Stickling and Roger Gasser give sound counsel to parents who have kids on the launching pad.

Systems Check for Launch.

For Kids:

• Do they have roots?
• Do they have wings?
• Can they evaluate their thoughts?
• Can they regulate their emotions?
• Have they been taught about God?
• Can they learn from pain?
• Can they ask for help?
• Can they engage in the community?
• Does their independence include responsibility?

For Parents

• We are stewards of our children. We do not own them.
• We cannot dictate their beliefs and thoughts.
• God has plans for them.
• Do not protect them from pain.
• Do not protect them from failure.
• Do not make them into a version of yourself.
• Give them freedom to make choices.
• Expect to be disappointed at times.
• Anticipate handing over control to a larger community.

3...2...1... no launch. This is the experience of many parents hoping to launch their kids into this wide world. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Craig Stickling and Roger Gasser give sound counsel to parents who have kids on the launching pad.

Systems Check for Launch.

For Kids:

• Do they have roots?
• Do they have wings?
• Can they evaluate their thoughts?
• Can they regulate their emotions?
• Have they been taught about God?
• Can they learn from pain?
• Can they ask for help?
• Can they engage in the community?
• Does their independence include responsibility?

For Parents

• We are stewards of our children. We do not own them.
• We cannot dictate their beliefs and thoughts.
• God has plans for them.
• Do not protect them from pain.
• Do not protect them from failure.
• Do not make them into a version of yourself.
• Give them freedom to make choices.
• Expect to be disappointed at times.
• Anticipate handing over control to a larger community.
•  

Infertility is a private loss many couples experience. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Tyler and Casey Zimmerman share their story. Their journey will accent the uniqueness of the infertility pain. It will resonate with the losses that are common among us and it will heighten God’s unique and common love to all His children.

Like a fingerprint, infertility pain is common to all sorts of pain and yet unique.

• Infertility is a private pain. “People have no idea of my pain.”
• Infertility struggles to have closure. “It impacts every phase of life.”
• Infertility pain is cyclic. “Maybe next month?”
• Infertility grief is ambiguous. “I’m grieving what might have been, but I don’t know what that even is.”
• Infertility can produce shame. “Why is God keeping children from us?”
• Infertility has administrational headaches. “Why won’t insurance cover this treatment?”
• Infertility treatment intrudes on your privacy. “Do you really need to know that?”
• Infertility robs normalcy. “Everything about getting and having kids is different. The announcement, the baby shower, the experience, is different.”

Yet…

• Infertility, like all pain, is seen by God.
• Infertility, like all pain, is best cared for in a loving community.
• Infertility, like all pain, can be that place where we meet God.