8 Reasons Why It’s Okay to Be Like Our Parents

1. Our Parents Gave Us Life

As the giver of life, God holds life-giving things in high regard, considering them sacred. Because He does, He commands that we honor our parents as written in Ephesians 6:2-3: "'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Giving birth to a new life is a high calling, God given and designed, to be respected, regardless of whether the parents are perfect. Proverbs 23:22 urges, "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old."

Sadly, in today's culture, giving life and taking on parenting responsibilities is not held in high esteem by some; it is frequently diminished and looked down upon.

Tragically, in the United States alone, statistics report that over 1,030,000 abortions were performed in 2024, ending life rather than giving and protecting it.

Although the series of sassy commercials are presented in humorous settings, their messages are dishonoring to our parents who gave us life.

2. We Are Created as a Reward to Our Parents

We didn't haphazardly come into being; God designed us specifically as a reward for our parents, whether we, or they, realize it. As Psalm 127:3 reminds us, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him."

God took much care in creating us for His glory and as a reward to our parents. Psalm 139:13 describes: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Additionally, Jeremiah 1:5 describes Jeremiah's life and calling, highlighting how God knows each one of us before we are formed. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

God has a call for each of our lives, too. Maybe not a calling as dramatic-sounding as being a prophet, but with a divine purpose and a calling, deeply loved and valued by God.

Related Resource: From Overgrown Yards to Overflowing Hearts: Stories of Families Transformed ft. Justin Knoop and Tricia Goyer

This week on Jesus Calling, we meet Justin Knoop—a husband, father of four, and the heart behind the Blessing Boys. What began as a small lawn care business grew into a mission to serve others, inspire his sons, and transform lives one yard at a time.

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tricia Goyer—an author, speaker, podcaster, and homeschooling mom whose journey has taken her from teen pregnancy to building a family of ten through adoption and foster care. Along the way, Tricia discovered that it’s not about doing more, but about noticing what matters most. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

3. Our Parents Taught Us about God

For many of us, our parents believed in God and raised us to believe in Him as well. As Proverbs 22:6 directs, they did as it instructs. "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2025, 62% of adults in the United States identified as Christians. (https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-and-spiritual-beliefs/)

29% of U.S. adults surveyed, considered the personal importance of religion while growing up as very important, with 34% considering it somewhat important.

Yet, these anti-parent ads continually urge adult children to reject their parents' ways of believing, thinking, and living, chipping away and causing some to question everything their parents taught them.

4. Our Parents Took Care of Us

Many of us grew up in families where our parents took care of us. Perhaps not perfectly for some of us, or to the standard we would have liked, but they did what they could and to the best of their ability to raise us, providing us with a home, food, and other necessities.

Although often unappreciated by adult children, it's an admirable quality to take care of one's family and not an effort to be devalued.

Sadly, some parents nowadays aren't taking care of their families for a number of reasons, either because they are unable to or unwilling to do so. Yet, God calls parents to provide for their families, warning in 1 Timothy 5:8, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

5. Our Parents Stayed Together through Difficult Marriages

For some of us, our parents stayed together in difficult marriages, fighting through the struggles, doing as 2 Timothy 4:7 urges us to do, to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.

Sadly, nowadays, some criticize couples who stay together in challenging marriages (not abusive situations) for a noble cause, persevere through difficulties, heartaches, and troubles to keep their commitment to God and to each other.

Over the last 100 years, the United States divorce rate increased from approximately 4 per 1,000 married women to around 14.6 per 1,000 in 2022. Many of our parents chose to stay married in less-than-perfect marriages.

Although some argue it's better to leave an unhappy marriage than to stay in it, most kids would likely disagree. Decades of research discovered that children living with their married, biological parents consistently have better emotional, academic, and physical well-being than children of divorce.

Additionally, research shows that most couples who stay married through difficult times find happiness again with each other. The Institute for Family Studies found that for couples who don't split up but stay together, the majority actually experience an improvement in their marital quality over the years. 

6. Our Parents Are a Source of Godly Wisdom

This series of commercials consistently undermines the wisdom many parents have to offer. As Job told his friends, "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" (Job 12:12). Yet, these ads tell us the opposite: young adults should resist and reject their parents' wisdom. Yet, Proverbs 1:8 encourages, "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching."

Likewise, Proverbs 4:1 urges, "Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding."

God's Word directs us to listen, pay attention, and to not forsake our parents' teaching, telling us we gain wisdom and understanding through them when we do.

7. Our Parents Have Life Experiences We Haven't Had Yet

Growing and maturing in life, parents learn important lessons their children may not know or have learned yet. Because they have, parents have gained wisdom and understanding of things that can help their children as they grow and mature in life.

Proverbs 15:20 describes how, "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother."

God created the family hierarchy as a way for parents to pass on the wisdom, truth, and understanding they've gained in life through their relationship with Him. This ad campaign opposes God's plan by diminishing parents as a rich resource in their children's eyes.

8. Our Parents Influence Future Generations

Unlike the culture of today, God places great value on parents influencing their children and their children's children.

Genesis 50:22-23 describes the beauty and importance of parents' presence in the lives of future generations. "Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father's family. He lived a hundred and ten years and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees."

The Apostle Paul refers to the influence of parental roles in future generations. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5).