What is it with all the licenses we need to have in order to live our lives?  How many do you have?  Do you have all the important ones?  Who decides what is important enough to need a license?

     Most of us have a driver’s license.  It is readily accepted as a form of picture ID and you better have it with you when on the road, that is if you are the one driving.  We need a license to get married.  Preachers need a license to marry and bury people.  Your beautician needs a license to cut and fix your hair.

     If you want to sell cookies at a flea market, you need a vendors license.  To wire a house, you need an electrician’s license.  To build the house, you need a contrator’s license.  You need a license to go hunting or fishing; and a different one for each state.

     So……why don’t we need a license to be parents?  That’s one of the most important things we will ever do.  We need a license to get married, but nothing is required to have babies.  If we had to pay $500. for a parenting license every time we wanted to have a new baby, we would probably have smaller families.

     Most licenses require some training or instruction, and you might even have to take a test to earn it.  I think young couples could benefit from some parenting classes before they start a family.  Most are only required to take these classes after the child has already gotten in trouble of some kind.  Wouldn’t it be better if we had the class before we damage the children?

     I love children!  I would be in favor of any license that would give them an easier life.  I have raised 3 of my own and taught hundreds of children over the years.  It’s easy to tell which kids come from stable homes, with loving parents. 

     I know that a license, a simple piece of paper, wouldn’t make you a good parent.  But, so many people are thrust into that position with no idea of what to expect.  I love the high school class that requires a student to carry around a fake baby for a few days.  It can be a reality check for some teens who think having a baby will solve all their problems.

     Children are a gift from God.  They are wonderful and precious.  Jesus loves children more than we will ever know.   His love toward them is perfect and unfailing. We can see that in Matthew 19:13-15.  Maybe we do need a license to parent, or maybe we just need to center our family around serving Jesus and trust God to show us how to be good parents.