Well, it is in no way like your relationship with your boys, unless you allow your boys complete freedom to do whatever they want.
When your boys are adults, they will have complete freedom. You will hope they choose to do the right thing every time, but you won't be able to guarantee or assure that. And, you will still love them, no matter what they do.
True, but when they were growing up and were still naive in the ways of the world, I made decisions for them and I went before them and prepared the way for them. They were trained in the way they should go so that when they were grown they would not depart from it. They were trained not to conform to this world but have their minds transformed by the Holy Spirit. As grown men they are being trained to have the mind of Christ by the Master Teacher so that their "free will" will be conformed to the free will of God. Their staying in the way is honoring to their parents and ultimately to their God. It is expected of them that as mature men their will will be what God wills for that is the mind of Christ.