Teach your children 

Teach your children, and show them the way to live, begin and end with Christ. Speak sweet words of life, that will touch their hearts, minds, souls, and spirits. Build a firm foundation and plant seeds of faith that cannot be easily uprooted. Let your words be powerful, strong, and mighty so that they can last. Start now, now when they are young and strong, and cement them into their hearts and minds. 

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 

Children must know who they are in Christ. If not, they will search for their identity somewhere else, which will result in a crisis.  

Show the love of Christ 

Not all of us had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. Many grew up in dysfunctional homes, with abusive parents, where parents themselves don’t know anything or might not believe in Jesus Christ. But how will they know if we do not tell them? How will they feel, if we do not show them the unconditional love of Christ? It is our duty as Christians to pass on our knowledge and not keep it to ourselves. Shine your light, so the whole world can see it. Some children went through a rough childhood, where their parents were always at war.  

Fighting, cursing, and being disrespectful to others are wrong and should not be part of any Christian home.  

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” 

Matthew 5:14 KJV 

Children should know from an early age, what is important in life. Yes, it’s good to seek after education, be ambitious, and want the best of life, but the most crucial of them all is knowing and having a relationship with Christ. If they are not aware of this one firm truth, then they will be searching here and there looking for something to believe in and put their trust in. And watch their life spinning out of control, as they lose hold of the purpose of life.  

Be a positive role model 

Parents should be positive role models for their children. Our children seek and crave our attention and approval. They so eagerly want us to be proud of them and their achievements, so it’s up to us to teach them the Godly way to live their lives. If we don’t teach them, then the world is waiting to draw them away into the numerous paths that will lead to sin and ungodliness.  

This world can be so mean and unkind. We are the world. People can be so cruel, if children place their hope and expectations in their parents’ friends, family, and society, then they are heading down the road to disappointment, heartbreak, and confusion. Jesus is the only way. 

Talk to your children 

A good way to build trust is to open a channel of communication with your children. Talk to them, and be open and honest. When they ask questions give an honest answer. Don’t get angry and boisterous when they do something that you are not pleased with. Reprimand them with a firm but gentle hand. Explain their error and show them where they went wrong and help them to see the folly of their ways.  

Children will learn good conversational skills which are vital for social development. They will learn how to talk through their fears and ideas while making their voices heard.  

Let your motto be “There are no wrong questions.” Ask them questions and allow them to ask you questions as well. Be prepared and anticipate what answer they are expecting. Let your answers and responses be clear without ambiguity and bias. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Say it from your heart. 

Don’t be too judgmental and lay down harsh and unfair punishment. Comparison is good but always remember that no two children are identical. Plug out from technology and plug into family quiet time. 

Listen to your children 

Do you listen to your children, and are they listening to you? With the busyness and cares of everyday life, it’s hard to find time to spend with our children. There are so many distractions, demands, and people needing our attention. With all this distraction it is easy not to realize that your children are trying desperately to get your attention. Yet in all this chaos and confusion, you must find time to listen to your children. Listen, don’t just pretend to be listening, while half of your attention is somewhere else. Quiet your mind, focus, and give your children your undivided attention. 

While open communication is good. It’s also very important to listen to your children.  Children are curious and want to explore, be open and provide guidance and positive feedback. Listen to the silent whisper and the loud cries that they make for help. Do not be distracted by the other cares of life but find time for your children. Do not ignore them, try and make time to spend with them, and listen to what they have to say. Also give corrections, fairly when necessary, and explain the do’s and don’ts with consequences. 

Show Respect and teach your children to show respect to others 

Respect is a two-way street. Give and receive. When a person feels respected there is a chance that they will be more willing to respond in a likewise manner. This is also true for disrespect. Allow your children the freedom to express themselves without facing condemnation, rejection, and fear. Talk to them in a respectful manner, and don’t interrupt them when they are speaking. Don’t address your children by derogative names, such as morons and idiots. Give praise, where praise is due. Encourage your children to be the best they can be. 

There seems to be a rising culture of disrespect with children these days. Could it be because they are more attached to and influenced by worldly standards and not their parents?

Trust is a good way of showing respect. Train your children well, then give them the room to make their own decisions without your constant interference. This also means allowing them to learn from their mistakes. 

Teach your children who they are in Christ

Let your children know that they are a child of God. That they are loved by you and by the loving heavenly father who created all things. 

One of the basic needs of humans is love. We all need love, but there seem to be so many different definitions of love these days. To the point that love cannot be mentioned without confusion, uncertainty, and disdain; but we are all called to love unconditionally with the love of Christ. But to love like Christ, we have to first know him. How can we say that we love him if we do not know him? Once we know him then we will know who we are in him. Hence no need for confusion. 

Children need to be reassured that they have a loving, and kind heavenly father who will never leave nor forsake them. 

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Joshua 1:5 KJV 

Teach your children to know who they are in Christ 

Teach your children to know their identity in Christ so that they will not have any doubt of their worth and purpose on this earth. It is not about how much wealth they can acquire, how much worldly knowledge they can amass, social media followers, or what their friends think. Yes, it’s great to get straight “A’s “but so what if they don’t? The important thing is that they did their best and gave it their all. None of these things proves their self-worth. It’s all about who they know they are in Christ Jesus. 

As parents, we should want only what’s best for our children. But sometimes our sense of judgment becomes cloudy and we want them to fulfill our expectations, dreams, and regrets. We set the bars so high that they cannot reach them. Yet deep down we know that we couldn’t or didn’t get there, so how can they? We should guide our children down the godly path and trust that they will make the right decisions according to the word of God and the principles that we have taught them. What else can we do? There is no other way.   

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:1 – 6:4 KJV 

Children are a gift from God 

Children are priceless, precious gifts from God. It is the parent’s and family’s job to respect and honor this role as guardian and stewardess. You should teach your children the laws and commandments of God and show them the way to the father. 

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

Psalms 127:3 KJV 

Parenting is not an easy job. It involves loving and caring for our children even when they do things that we are not proud of. Parenting is a lifelong responsibility that we cannot turn away from. It’s even harder these days, coupled with technology and the level of ungodliness in the world today. Children are introduced to these smart devices at an early age which can take the place of parenting if we let them. 

The internet and all its many dangers come with various troubling problems for parents. What programs to allow our children to watch? Where do we draw the line, when the whole picture is so blurry? Some parents rather than spending the time to dig up or cut down the weeds just stand back and allow the weeds to grow with the crops and stand ready to live with the consequences.  

Stifling such great potential and possibilities. Can we ever correct the damages that are done to our children when they are contaminated with the dangers of modern civilization and technologies? Prevention is better than cure, isn’t it? 

Build your home and teach your children how to build theirs 

Parents, build your castle, built it high on a solid foundation of Christ. Fortify the walls with prayer and fasting. Build doors of brass and bars of iron, and protect your children with the word of God. Let not the evil influences of the world come into corrupt, kill steal, and destroy what you have built and corrupt the values and morals that you have instilled in your children. Protect your home, children, and everything that’s within the walls and outside the grounds with the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Ghost. 

Technology is just one of the many distractions from solid parenting. Our children are also bombarded by peer pressures and their own self-conflicting beliefs. We must do our best to silence the evil voices speaking to our children and help them stay on the straight and narrow path to righteousness. 

Lead by example 

Children will follow your example and do what you do. So do good and teach your children to do the same. Let them see you doing good and being a positive force in their lives. What’s the use in telling them “Thou shall not steal” and then letting them see you stealing? Live by your words and practice what you preach. Take note of the things they do and see how much of your behavior they are adopting.  

If you are proud of yourself and know that you are living right, then it’s like looking in the mirror and seeing your reflection. Be the most influential person in your children’s lives and don’t allow others to take your place. Teach your children respect, honesty, good manners, and how to value and appreciate themselves and others. 

Live and Learn 
If children live with kindness, they learn to give. 
If children live with respect, they learn to be respectful. 
If children live with self-love, they learn to feel happy. 
If children live with heartache, they learn to be vulnerable. 
If children live with bitterness, they learn scorn  
If children live with rejection, they learn fear. 
Show them the way to kindness, respect, and self-love. 
Keep them away from heartache, bitterness, and rejection 
So they can find peace, love, and happiness. 

www.sweetwordsoflife.com

Is parenting changing or constant? 

The collapse of good family values has resulted in a downward trend to lower and lower moral values in society. Parenting is becoming harder and less Christian focus. The goal of parenting should be to raise children that are respectful, honest, hardworking, and thoughtful, and who exhibit the fruits of the spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5: 22-23 KJV

But the role has shifted to a place that feels like the children are in control. Parents trying their utmost best to please their children in the hope of avoiding conflicts and confrontations. Parents taking a back seat to modern technologies and giving their children partial and full control of the wheel. Children overpowering their parents and running the home their way. With the absence of a father figure in many family homes, it’s hard to discipline and inspire children to do ‘the honor and obey” the rules of the Bible. So how do you parent in the age of modern technology? You follow the Bible.

Parents take back the wheel

Have we taught our children to drive, allowing them to take the wheel with their friends and the world in the front seat while we take the back seat? Well, it’s time for parents to take back the wheel. Times and seasons will change but the principles of parenting remain the same. We should use the Bible as the rule book. We guide our children, train them up in the ways of the Lord, then let go and allow them to chart their own course to the destiny that God has in store for them. It is hard to let go, and yes, we would like to spare them from every hurt, pain, and danger that they will face but we can’t. Just put them in the capable strong hands of God, knowing that you have done your best and God will do the rest. 

Prayer to be a good parent
 
Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name. Lord, I thank you that you are a good father who loves your children with all your heart. Lord, please help me to love my children unconditionally and help me to guide them to the heart of who you are. Father, please give me and my children humility, and help us to surrender everything to you.  Lord, please show me how to be a positive godly influence in the lives of my children and how to keep them safe from the evil influences of the world. Lord, please give me the wisdom to be the best parent I can be to my children. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.