Many parents dedicate a lot of time and effort into raising their kids with strong values, but some still find themselves watching their children drift away from those beliefs. A homeschooling mother of seven, witnessing her youngest child’s departure from faith, reached out to BlazeTV host Steve Deace for guidance, questioning if she had somehow failed.
Deace’s response was clear: “The story isn’t over.”
He reassured her, “None of the stories of your children are finished yet. For those of you with prodigal kids, this may be the hardest chapter, but remember, the final outcome isn’t written yet.”
He referenced St. Augustine and his mother, Monica, who prayed for her son for “17 years.”
He elaborated, “He would eventually become one of the most significant figures in church history, influencing thought even nearly 2,000 years later.”
Deace advised her to remain hopeful and persistent: “So, don’t quit. Don’t give up. Their stories aren’t concluded. Keep believing that there’s more to come.”
He reflected on the complexities of modern parenting, suggesting that many of the societal issues confronting today’s youth have roots from a simpler time, one he and others grew up in.
According to him, raising kids back then was “simpler,” as it wasn’t a common expectation to constantly counteract what they absorbed at school each day. “College was seen as a treat rather than being something kids dread, worried they might become ‘woke’ during their experience,” he remarked.
“It’s never easy to raise children, but in comparison, it was simpler during our upbringing.” He reaffirmed that even if parents find themselves in a trying phase, there’s always hope. “Don’t lose faith in the Lord or stop praying, even until your last breath.”
