I had the honor of appearing on KATV ABC 7’s Little Rock ARC program to discuss Father’s Day, Oh Brother, My Brother, family connection, and the importance of storytelling. I also had the privilege of moderating the first-ever Family Authors in Conversation event in Little Rock’s historic West 9th Street corridor, a place deeply rooted in culture, entrepreneurship, and community.
Alongside an incredible group of authors, we talked about how literacy does more than help children read. It helps them think, imagine, create, and connect. Most importantly, it strengthens the bond between parents and children. 📚
But one conversation from that event has stayed with me.
As we discussed parenting and raising children, I shared a message I got from my church’s senior pastor that had been weighing heavily on my heart:
Raise the child God gave you, not the child you wish God gave you.
Think about that for a moment.
Every child arrives with a unique personality, unique gifts, and a unique purpose. Yet sometimes, as parents, we can find ourselves trying to mold them into a version that feels more familiar, more comfortable, or more aligned with our own expectations.
But what if our job isn’t to redesign our children?
What if our job is to discover who they already are?
That thought led me to another realization that applies not only to parents but to adult children as well.
Just as we are called to accept our children for who they are, perhaps we must also learn this.
Accept the parents God gave you, not try will them into the parents you wished you have.
That doesn’t mean excusing harmful behavior.
It doesn’t mean abandoning boundaries.
And it certainly doesn’t mean ignoring pain.
What it does mean is recognizing that our parents are human beings with their own stories, limitations, wounds, and capacities.
For many of us, a tremendous amount of stress comes from trying to make someone become who we wish they were instead of accepting who they are.
The older I get, the more I realize that acceptance creates space for peace.
It allows us to show grace without surrendering our boundaries.
It allows us to love people without carrying the burden of trying to change them.
And it reminds us that love isn’t always about control.
Sometimes love is about understanding.
As we celebrate Father’s Day and Family Month, I’m reminded that strong families aren’t built on perfection. They’re built on grace, communication, acceptance, and connection.
And perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love is the freedom to be exactly who they are.
📚 If you’re looking for a meaningful way to spark conversations about family, emotions, and connection, check out Oh Brother, My Brother.
🎙️ And if this message resonated with you, be sure to listen to the latest episode of The Brandon D. Campbell Podcast, where business and mindfulness meet to build a better leader in you.
