Why some children are less awesome than their parents.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (2R) 
sitting with his son Randolph Churchill (L),
 brother Maj. John Churchill (R) and nephew John Churchill.

As most of you know, I have four young children. I find myself wondering sometimes who they will be when they grow up. I consider their personality, character, and tendencies, and try to imagine them as adults. What will they do for work? Whom will they marry? Will they go to college or go into a trade? Will they be believers? Will they have children, either biological or adopted? What kind of men and women will they become?

Genesis 25:19-28
"This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married    Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.   26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob."

For all the promises and fanfare surrounding the birth of a son for Abraham and Sarah, it seems to me that Isaac didn't amount to much. There really isn't much about him at all in the Scriptures -- only about two pages deals with him specifically. He's born, he marries Rebekah, he has kids, then he gets swindled by one of them, then he dies. Not much there. My impression of him is not very complimentary.

Children of great people in history often struggle in their parent's shadow. I have read many accounts of the children of important people like Winston Churchill or Ronald Reagan, who really have difficulty in making a success out of their own lives. I wonder how much of that is their own coasting on their parent's ability through childhood, or the parent stifling the child with their larger-than-life persona?

I suppose there comes a time, when every parent must step back and coax, motivate, and force their children to stand on their own, to make their own way, and to build for themselves a life independent of any accomplishments of their parents. I already suspect this will be a challenge, at least for me. Out of love, I want to give my children every advantage, while at the same time I know that they must struggle in order to succeed in life. I imagine Abraham wrestled with the same balance.