Life can be challenging at times. Mistakes happen. When my daughter kicked her new beach ball into a tree, all that was left of it was tattered debris. I hope that this will be worst type of calamity that I will have to deal with as a mother: simple accidents where nothing really terrible is lost.
Looking to the future, I want to keep my daughter from more catastrophic mistakes than losing a $5 beach ball by not thinking out where she is directing her ball. What about the bigger issues as she reaches her teenage years?
I am so thankful for my role as a mother as I look to the future with prayer and scripture. Everyone recognizes the scripture from Proverbs 22:6.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
1. Teach them to focus on God first in their lives. My daughter accepted Christ when she was seven. Now she sings in church and loves the Lord.
2. Daily Bible devotions are a must as instructed in the Bible in Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
3. Gentle correction in love is essential. I do not advocate child abuse, but I do believe the scriptures about not sparing the rod. I reserve the rod, however, for when my daughter’s actions can result in harm to herself or others. My first form of discipline is to take away privileges such as her computer and television. I also use positive discipline methods to encourage her to think about her behavior. I even have her write her own thoughts down about why her actions were hurtful or wrong and how she plans to not repeat such actions in the future.
4. Involve your children in church and quality community activities from a young age. I have my child in the church choir and plan to allow her to join the youth group. She will participate in church activities first and community activities second. I enrolled her in our Clemson Extension 4-H club which has special programs on honesty, respect, and responsibility.
5. Godly love should be at the center of all your decision for you children. Just as God will not give us everything; we should not spoil our own children by giving them unnecessary things in life. I strive to teach my daughter that giving material things does not equate to love. Love is God. I am to love my child like God loves me. God tells me no when He knows that a desire in my heart is not for my best; likewise, I have to sometimes tell my own daughter no.
What thoughts would you add to my list? Please share in the comments below.
Joining these hops today:
Also be sure to check my Thursday’s hops page for more great hops to join.
Raising up children is a wonderful blessing from God. We are now enjoying the grandparent stage and oh my the joy. Thanks for these words of promise.
{Melinda} Mary, my favorite prayer for my children is Colossians 1:9-10. It has everything there that I could possibly want to pray over my children! 🙂 Found you through Inspired Bloggers Network … always great to meet a new mama blogger who is a fellow believer. 🙂
Great scripture. So glad to meet you guys on Inspired Bloggers Network. I love it. 🙂
Very wise post, Mary, and thank you for linking up today! I remember when my daughters were first born and praying that I would know what to do!! Now that they are young adults, I do believe they know what is right and good and try to live their lives that way. There’s no greater joy than to see your kids grow up and live in a Godly way!
I totally agree! I’m so thankful that all of my adult children are serving God and their church. We’ve always taught them to put God first in everything they do. Are they perfect? No way! But I am so very proud of them! 🙂
Congratulations on devoted, Christian adult children. I hope my daughter follows in their footsteps.
Some great ideas here! Thanks 🙂
I am happy you found some good ideas here today.
Great thoughts! I like the idea about having the child write down a plan as to how to avoid bad judgement / behavior in the future!
Amy, it really works. 🙂
I love that scripture and I need to strive to put God first! I try but it’s so hard sometimes.
I strive with putting God first everyday. I know how hard it is. Thanks for sharing.