I read an article recently in which CEO Jonatha Holland explained her job this way: “I do not have a special parking place. I do not get bonuses. As a matter of fact, I haven’t had a paycheck in 12 years. My job-critical tasks are teaching, counseling, nurturing, and disciplining. I am not always popular. But that’s OK because it is not part of my job to be popular. I am my Children’s Executive Officer. I’ve been entrusted with raising three children to be adults. It’s not vitally important that they become successful in the way that we often define success—lots of money, fame, a specific career. But I do want them to succeed in the way Webster’s Dictionary describes it, ‘to turn out well.’”

Being the father of six grown children, I could relate immediately. Her article also caused me to take stock of my parenting years in terms of her definition of success. Had my children turned out well? Yes, I told myself, rather tentatively at first, still a bit too preoccupied by some of our low points and my own shortcomings as a father. But when I thought more about it in terms of who my children are now, I was very encouraged. They are works in progress, like the rest of us, but they are “turning out well” indeed.

Of course, most of the credit for that goes to their mother, who never ceases to amaze me with her love, patience, dedication, and tenacity. But above all, I think we did as well at parenting as we did because we tried to do it God’s way. We were also fortunate to have been surrounded by likeminded friends, many of whom had more experience than we did. Not only did we benefit from their experience, encouragement, and even hands-on help, but they also pointed us to a wealth of godly counsel in various publications. And that’s one of the aims of this issue of Activated—to pass on some of that experience, encouragement, and counsel. May yours “turn out well”!

Keith Phillips