The hardest people to lead are family, or so it seems. Regardless of your professional accomplishments or personal successes, you are often seen as “just my…” dad, mom, husband, wife, or a plethora of other familial titles. This can be especially true during certain seasons of life. For example, not too long ago my wife and I saw our oldest son join the Marines, and our twin daughter's graduate college and become engaged. At the same time, our two youngest children began high school. These things would all seem to be normal processes in the lives of your typical American family. However, in our house it was as if someone had unleashed a clan of William Wallaces all clamoring for freedom from the oppression of sensible thinking and experienced foresight.

My wife and I spent years trying to encourage our children to think for themselves, see others the way that God sees them, and add value to people daily. Though our methods weren’t perfect, we...