By: Kent Evans

3 min. read

Parenting and Falling

If you want to keep from slipping, stay off of the ice.

Just recently, my family and I were on a retreat. We were staying at a mountain cabin in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. It’s a beautiful, scenic part of our state. Though we were there during the winter, we fortunately had a warmer-than-usual Saturday, and we decided to go for a hike.

Right below the extremely steep hill that ran down from our home there was a concrete path that stretched both directions into the woods. Since this path was situated just below a steep hill, water had run across it in a couple spots. In the fluctuating temperatures, the water had frozen, and unfrozen, and there was a two-foot run off that was extremely slippery.

You know, ice is fun, right up until it isn’t.

My nine-year-old son was testing his balance on it, then he lost it. Down he came, right on his elbow. Fortunately, nothing was broken, and we eventually got him calmed down.

I was reminded of a statement a counselor once told me, “Kent, if you wanna keep from slipping, stay off of the ice.” That day helped reinforce the truth of that statement.

Parenting through Temptation

This truth is especially real in the area of sexual temptation. And, parents, we must warn our children – in their early teen years – of just how disorienting this area can become.

My oldest son was a thoughtful young man during his dating years. He didn’t do everything perfectly, but he wanted to date girls in a way that honored God. He once asked me about this, and I shot him straight. “Hey bud, here’s the deal. You have no appreciation for how magnetic and irresistible sexual temptation can be. Once you’re alone with a girl in a private space, things can spiral outta control faster than you can imagine. You think you’ll be able to turn back, but, I’m telling you my friend – stay off that ice.”

We do our kids a grave disservice if we don’t warn them of the power and allure of privacy with a young lady or man to whom they’re attracted. We need to help them realize that once they’re on that ice, it can be too late to safely make it back to shore. They need to make a decision, far in advance, that they’ll take every precaution to avoid compromising situations.

We must help them realize that their sheer willpower may be no match for what they’ll be up against.

Parenting and Growing

We can’t sugarcoat it.

I once heard a preacher say it like this, “If you think you can play with sexual temptation and not give in, then you’re braver than David, stronger than Samson and wiser than Solomon.” Wow. Powerful, convicting and alarming.

Get in there and help your kids anticipate the dangers of sexual temptation. Help them develop the skill and discernment to stay far from that slippery slope. Or, it won’t just be a bump on the elbow they’re nursing but something far more dangerous and damaging. 

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Kent’s bio:

Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps fathers become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects. He’s appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts. Kent has spoken at parenting and men’s events. He’s authored two books. The first, Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You, was written to help men learn how to find mentors and wise counsel. The second, The Manhood Journey: Charting a Course to Biblical Fatherhood, aims to help dads not be good or great dads, but be godly ones. Learn more at manhoodjourney.org or fatheronpurpose.org.