Take heart, and begin where you are. The good news is that the principles of parenting and raising kids will help in any situation. We don't have to feel

as if we are doomed to a lesser life or a lesser family just because our situation may be different or fraught with difficulties.

While there is no absolute guarantee in Scripture that even in the best family situations our kids will turn out to be faithful Christians, the Bible does

promise that if we put God first, he blesses our lives and is working for our good in all we do (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 127, 128; Romans 8:28). It is far, far

better to live faithfully and build our family around spiritual principles than to go the way of the world. Everything we do in a godly direction matters; every effort we make, makes a difference

.

So what can we do right now? Let's take on whatever family situation we are in with faith, hope and love. Let's do all we can to be the best parents

or grandparents we can be. Whatever time we have to give, let's give it with prayer on our lips, God's word in our hearts and God's priorities in our lives.

Let's build a family as best we can with the tools God makes available to us.