The Shepherd Press Blog

Midlife: A Portrait #2

Powerful Personal Interpretations and Your Children

In this brief series of posts we are taking advantage of the excellent work done by Paul Tripp in his book Lost in the Middle. One thing that Paul and Tedd Tripp have made abundantly clear in their writings is that it is the heart that drives us as people. This is true for people of all ages. Whether it is in mid life, in the toddler years, in youth or in old age, humans are heart driven people. People seek the treasures that their hearts long for. Christ clearly teaches about this relationship between treasures and heart in Matthew 6:19-21:

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Midlife: A Portrait

The next few posts are drawn from the penetrating insights of Paul David Tripp’s book Lost in the Middle. These insights intersect with the biblical perspectives taught in Tedd Tripp’s Shepherding a Child’s Heart. I can almost hear someone asking, “What does a book on midlife have to do with a book on childrearing?”  The connection is this: what rules those in midlife also rules children. That connection, of course, is the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 says:

Above all else, guard your heart,
       for it is the wellspring of life.

The heart determines the things that matter most to us. Our treasures in this world reflect the true longings of our hearts. This is true for everyone, including both the child and the midlife adult. In chapter 1 of Lost in the Middle Paul Tripp sketches a portrait of life. This sketch is helpful not only for those in midlife, but also for understanding the ruling desires of children. As we look at some of these dominant themes in midlife, also look at how these same themes are at work in your children. It is not difficult to project these ruling attitudes and desires into midlife. By identifying these themes in your children now you can begin to prepare your children to chart a safe course through the turbulent waters of midlife.