A blessing from God the Father according to the bible. Psalm 127 verse 4.
I count it a blessing and privilege to have three wonderful children that were entrusted to me and as adults now each of them bless my life.
Children are given to us parents on loan to do an excellent job in raising them to be the people of the next generation. Sadly, not all parents do an excellent job which leaves us with damaged children needing repairs along life’s journey.From the moment they are born they need to be loved and nurtured, made to feel safe, secure and valued. As they grow the responsibility of disciplining, teaching and still pouring in love becomes a very fine balance. Building confidence into your children as you teach them what you believe to be the right ways of life.The physical touch, play and positive talking shapes who they will be later in life. Making sure you spend time to listen to them and reassure them that no matter what you will be there always. That actually they can tell you anything and you will still love them!
LOVE
Let’s take a look at love and see what the bible says about it. Love means you will be patient with your child/children, kindness will be shown to them and you will naturally want to protect them from harm. Love gives you hope for them and helps you to persevere when life is difficult with them too. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
DISCIPLINE
All children need disciplining at some point in their lives. From very young they learn the word no can be said with a firm tone and just a quick glance of disapproval. I firmly believe that children do not need to feel physical pain in order for discipline to work. By discipline your child you make them feel safe and secure, ensuring they fully understand boundaries from a very young age. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Take a look at Proverbs 13:24 – (He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes) and then really pray about what that word says to you and for your family. You see, I believe the Lord expects us to correct our children in order to raise them according to his word.
Teaching your children the ways of life according to the bible is part and parcel of their upbringing if you love Jesus and have a relationship with him yourself. However, you are not responsible for the decisions they make as they progress into adulthood. If you have planted deep roots in them prayerfully when they were young then they know that Jesus loves them and at some point in their lives they make a decision to follow him.
RESPECT
This is a two way thing and respect is earned along the way. You respect the lives of your children from the very beginning and as they grow you should earn their respect. Even today I can recall things my father taught me and values that I hold dear because of his input into my life. The Lord created us to be respected. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and as such are precious before our Heavenly Father.
As parents it is extremely important to pray for your children remembering all the promises that the bible teaches us.
Remembering always that they were given to us and at some point you need to let them go, so they can grow.
Continue to pray for them daily enjoying the times when you are together again, whether that’s a family meal or an afternoon tea, a trip to visit a museum or a holiday. All are gifts from heaven above which we should treasure forever!
Lorraine Johnson
Mother, Child Behavioural specialist, Teaching assistant & Home School Liaison Worker.
