Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I ran across a story that shows what happens when the family structure breaks down - but it’s not about people – it’s about elephants. In South Africa a group of young bull elephants whose family members had been gunned down were transported to another wildlife reserve. While there – these elephants embarked on a killing spree that lasted several years leaving more than 100 animals dead, including 40 white rhinoceroses. To stop the killing, older male elephants were shipped in to establish a new male hierarchy which would keep the young elephants in check. The killing stopped.
Like human society, the elephant family defines established roles for training and discipline in family life. Young elephants require a prolonged period of nurture with family to prepare them for life. Damage in family life will produces painful and devastating results. In this situation the loss of the mature males was catastrophic.
Many of us in the body of Christ have not had healthy families or good parental role models; but our life as a believing family (church) will generally begin to improve, correct, and heal the results of a broken family life which many suffer from. Mature believers are role models and examples, not only to our children, but also to younger believers.
Christian leaders should be healthy role models, but many are deficient and unhealed in certain ways. We all need grace when it comes to this area of body life. Our expectations will not always be met and sometimes were disappointed. Our saving grace - and it is truly an amazing one - is that we all have a Heavenly Father who is a perfect parent, and who can love and nurture us. He also provides human role models and healers to help bring us to wholeness. Be thankful for any good parenting you have received; forgive all that was negative. Then ask your Heavenly Father to parent you by His personal parental love. This will free you from deep resentment and bitterness, and will begin to move you toward maturity and peace, and will prepare you to be a good parent and role model for others.