Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Holiday Message to Parents: “All Roads Don’t Lead to Your House on the Holidays”
A New Perspective on evolving families, holiday expectations, and love beyond tradition.
AUSTIN — We live in a time of evolving business models, shifting political climates, and yes, changing family structures. From blended families with “bonus” children, to multigenerational households, to single-parent homes — including a growing number of single fathers and empty-nesters— the traditional nuclear family is increasingly understood as one historical model among many, rather than the default.
As the holiday season unfolds and family dynamics take their organic shape, Bishop T.D. Jakes addressed this reality candidly on a recent episode of his NXT Chapter Podcast during a conversation with his daughter and Woman Evolved CEO, Sarah Jakes Roberts.
Reflecting on the changing roles of parents and adult children during the holidays, Bishop Jakes emphasized the importance of maturity and release:
“It’s important for parents to allow children to have their own lives. Sometimes we’re making Christmas dinner, and sometimes they’re making Christmas dinner for their families. Allowing that family to have its own identity and its own culture is maturity. All roads don’t lead to your house all the time. That can be a transition for people who are used to being in control.”
His remarks are a chord in a cultural moment where many families are redefining connection, tradition, and expectations.
A Generational Perspective on Boundaries and Healing
Sarah Jakes Roberts added important generational context, speaking to the values shaping millennials and Gen Z families today:
“My generation is very intentional about protecting their mental health and emotional real estate. We have a generation that is cutting their parents off because they don’t get it — they don’t understand, and they won’t take ownership.”
Her comments reflect a broader societal shift toward emotional wellness, boundaries, and accountability — values that often challenge older frameworks of authority and tradition.
Authenticity in Faith and Family
Sarah Jakes Roberts has built a platform known for its authenticity and transparency, often addressing struggles and triumphs that were once considered taboo in church culture. When asked about becoming pregnant as a teenager, she shared a deeply personal reflection on how that experience shaped her identity:
“In the moment, I saw it as embarrassment, but God gave me this sense of identity and responsibility. I couldn’t go too far. I think I would’ve been a lot more adventurous, a lot more dangerous, a lot more disposable as it related to my worth and identity if I didn’t have this little person counting on me. He gave me a grounding and a weight that I think I needed at an early age.”
A New Perspective on Family
Families today come in many forms — and that diversity is not a failure of values, but evidence of human adaptation and resilience. As traditions evolve and expectations shift, the invitation this holiday season may be to release rigid definitions and embrace love in its many expressions.
Not every road leads to the same house — but that doesn’t make the journey any less meaningful.
Sometimes, taking A new perspective is the most loving action of all.
Interested in learning more about managing family dynamics this holiday season? View the full episode of the NXT Chapter Podcast on YouTube.
Hi rainbow Roxy! Thank you for your comment, it isn’t taken lightly! Your comment confirms my clarion call to bring A New Perspective to news and cultural trends. Thank you so much for the support and validation. It makes me feel that purpose has been served if one person is helped 🙏
Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot. Bishop Jakes' point about how 'all roads don't lead to your house' is so insightfull and much-needed. Really apreciate this modern perspective on family.