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Parenting

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

A minister's son who had just gained his driver's license wanted to borrow the car. His dad said, "First, get your hair cut." "But dad," he protested, "Moses and Noah had long hair!" "Yeah," replied his father, "and they both walked everywhere they went!" Children can be exasperating, but they are also God's greatest gifts! Here are six principles to help you raise yours right: 1) do not try to make them carbon copies of you. God made each of your children a genuine "one-of", with their own genetic make-up and personality. Do not try to make them into something that God and the rest of us do not need one more of 2) develop their potential. That means listening, observing, and once their talents and interests are identified, helping to maximize them 3) love them unconditionally. Your children need to know that their worth is never in question, that they are loved for who they are; that your love is not given or withdrawn because of behavior, appearance, or achievement 4) establish boundaries and be consistent in maintaining them. Boundaries give children a sense of security; without them, they are headed into a life of trouble 5) help them pursue their dreams. Just like you, your children need goals to aim for, to stimulate and inspire them 6) help them develop strong character and godly values. These are the all-important intangibles that will help them to go the distance.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me with my children and the children you place in my life, to train them to know you by my actions reflecting you. In Jesus' Name, Amen