Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah;And the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Parenting is one of the most rewarding things on Earth, but also one of the hardest, frustrating, and many times humiliating things on Earth.
We have chosen and been blessed to take responsibility for another person's life. With that comes the most humble job you could ever take on. More and more parents don't take their role in their children's life seriously. This covers not just the fact of whether or not you are there for them, but how you act when your around them.
Children absorb and imitate everything they see. They take all that they absorb and it molds them into what they will be in the future. Do you want your child to imitate someone who shows love and compassion to all; or one who is filled with hate and regret.
I read a good quote that says “children don’t create problems they reveal them.” That's a pretty powerful statement for the parent. We are so busy with our day to day lives that we often don't give them the kind of attention and guidance they need. Their behavior is quite often a revelation of something we are doing wrong. Now don't get me wrong kids still have their moments but if we honestly stepped back and looked at those occasions, we may be surprised of the root cause.
It is natural for children to test limits. They want to find out where the boundaries are. You don’t need to teach a child to say “no” or “mine” they pick it up without difficulty. Part of the role of parents is teaching their children to share, to give, to forgive, to love others. We are by nature selfish, part of our role as parents is to teach otherness to our children. We should show our children and grandchildren how good it can feel to help others.
In one recent survey, fathers were said to spend only 37 seconds a day in conversation with their boys. How do you teach anyone anything important in 37 seconds a day? I admit I spend more than 37 seconds each day with my son, but unfortunately not always actually preparing him for life. We have to humble ourselves. Being a parent means all your wants are trivial compared to what your child needs. Yes we all need time to ourselves; some of us more than others. But it must be done in a way where the child doesn't feel like they are a burden.
One of the ways I demonstrate love to my children is spending time with them and consistently setting limits. We must be humble with our time to give the children what they need. I stumble with this all the time, but the time and love we show them will be reflected in the person they become.
It can be said that, If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight. Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient. Luke 9:48 and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is great.
If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice. Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him corrects him.
If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world. Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Realize as a parent you are a steward of your child. The Father admonishes us to be careful that you don’t forget what God has done for you and to make sure to pass down your faith to your children and grandchildren. God has given each parent a responsibility to train up their children in the Lord. This cannot be passed on to someone else, it is yours.
Proverbs 22:6 says to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
As parents we are working in partnership with God to bring our children from a self-centered
lifestyle to a God-centered basis for living. Our goal is to produce responsible adults who are able
to function independently of parent’s authority, yet wholly submitted to God’s.
Remember to be fair in discipline. God is always our model in discipline. God treats us with grace, not as we deserve. He treats us fair and is quick to forgive. He is motivated by love and operates out of love.
There are two dangers in parenting, one is being too lenient. The failure to set rules and to be consistent with them. The other is to be too rigid and harsh. To set impossible standards that your children cannot live up to. This quenches the spirit of a child.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding
