Each day I am confronted with the challenges of training my son. All of the books written on parenting could not have prepared me for this. There are times when I look at my almost angelic child and think that being his mom is the best thing that ever happened to me. And it is.
But then, he awakes from sleep. I am then confronted with his stubborn streak that he must have inherited from me and I wonder where did I go wrong? At these times it is sometimes easier for as a parent to say, that I’ll just let him be because I am just tired of repeating myself. It may seem easier to give into the tantrums because then I won’t have to deal with the screaming.
It is at these times, god reminds me that I am responsible for training him in the way that he must go. In this popular verse, God did not offer a suggestion to parents. He commands us to train our children and by doing so we shape their future.
So how does God want us to train our children? What exactly is child training? And what single principle can parents teach their children that they will carry throughout their lifetime?
I believe that God wants us as adults to accept the bible as the ultimate authority for our lives. By demonstrating the authority of the Bible in our lives we teach our children to accept God’s authority over their lives. This is a guiding principle that no one can depart from.
I believe that our relationship with our children should be a reflection of God’s relationship with us. Just as God is patient, loving, forgiving, faithful, kindhearted and trustworthy with us we ought to be the same with our children. By doing this we are revealing God’s true character to them.
As I write this post, I am reminded that God wants me to train up my son in the way that he ought to go. I am reminded that yelling, nagging, rules, time out, television, toys do not fall under the category of child training.
Today I resolve to make a consistent effort to train my son to know the Lord. I trust that God will bless my efforts and one day my son will grow into an adult that I can be proud of. Lord help us to raise children in whom you can be well pleased!
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Growing up I always heard from my grandmother say that all things work together for those who love the Lord. This seemed to be her anthem for all all life’s misfortunes, everything will work out in the end.
Do you have a plan for your life? Maybe you have a plan for your children’s lives. The thing is we often have plans for our lives that is contrary to the plans that God in his wisdom has prepared for us.
Sometimes we are fortunate to have friends who will stick with you in spite of everything. I am thankful to have found such a friend in my husband, he has been there for me when others have let me down, he has loved me even when I messed up.
I must admit I have a really hard time talking about the truths of the bible with a very good friend of mine. In fact I tend to stay off the topic of the bible whenever we talk. In spite of this he has been one of my dearest friends for the last six years.
A very close friend of mine recently had a beautiful baby boy. It brought to mind all the baby gear I had stored away from my little boy. I scheduled some time to visit that untouched corner of my home in order to gather those treasures for her.