I read something recently about childbirth that I had never thought about before. But when you think about it, it is extremely profound.

The pain of childbirth is twofold: there is the pain of bringing the child into the world, and there is the pain of bringing that child up in the world, and the latter is greater. The physical pain of bearing a child is tremendous, but usually lasts only a few hours. But the pain of rearing that same child lasts a lifetime and never lessens.1

Every time I preach on the subject of parenting, I always feel extremely inadequate. I know there are many parents out there who either are wrestling with what I call the terrible toddler, or fighting with a terrifying teenager. Either way, it's not always a picnic.

I heard about a young preacher who had not yet m…