Having children in our home is a wonderful blessing from the Lord! Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
Remember when we dreamed of the day we would hear the pitter patter of little feet in our home? Nowadays something strange happens to many parents once the children arrive and take up residence in our homes. Parents don’t seem to know what to do with those children once they are there!
Too many young parents lack the discipline and determination it takes to train and rear their children to be people of character and integrity. Most parents don’t have within themselves, the character needed to pass
on to their children simple concepts of kindness, honesty, integrity and a genuine love for Christ. Many parents today find themselves addicted to entertainment and outside connections and relationships. (Computer, Facebook etc.)
Here are some simple tips for raising children to be men and women of character, integrity and a good work ethic.
1. Make the Bible a daily focus and foundation in your home. Read it to your children. Refer to it when speaking. Give it a place of importance in all decision making and discussions in your family.
2. Talk about your love for God openly. Reverence the Heavenly Father in front of your family. Make Him real to your children. Teach them to care about what God thinks of their thoughts and actions. If Christ is a personal Saviour to you…be sure your kids know that.
3. Remember that the more time you spend doing things together with your children, the fewer discipline issues you will have to deal with. Children who idolize their father/mother will want to do their best to please them.
4. Take the time to read to your children. Perhaps you did not learn to read well. Take the time to practice by reading to your own children. Show your children that you too, are interested in books and learning. The Bible will automatically become more interesting if you take the time to to make reading a high priority.
5. Be there for your child. Get to know his heart. Build a memory with little ones. Too soon….they are grown and gone. Take the time now to enjoy your child for this leads to a wonderful friendship after they are grown.
6. Praise and reward the desired behavior and you’ll find that there will be much less of the undesirable kind. Don’t be fake or excessive in your praise for this kind of phony praise is actually a breeding ground for
narcissistic behavior. A child should earn every word of praise he receives!
7. Allow your children to feel a part of the struggles of real life. They need not know your entire financial situation but neither should they be given everything their little hearts desire. Life without struggle is not achievement. Let them learn to do without in some areas. Teach them to be content with simple foods, toys and possessions.
8. PROTECT THEM FROM TECHNOLOGY! Just because it is so readily available doesn’t mean they should have it. Tech toys will come between you and your child. It robs the family of interpersonal relation- ships and you interrelate with objects rather than people. Shut off the TV and the DVD player. Get off the computer, cell phone and the iPod. Have real discussion with the real people who live in your home.
What do we do with our children?
Learn to live, laugh, love, work, play, create, struggle and worship together for the glory of our wonderful Lord and Saviour. You’ll never regret…
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