Raise the Children Right

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

A Mennonite farmer explained his simple philosophy for influencing his world to an inquisitive television crew: “I concentrate on raising my children right. If I teach them correctly, I will have touched many lives for generations to come.”

Parents who have learned from their folks teach their own offspring. The Christian life is handed down in its most intact form in the home. Teaching our children about God begins with running our own race strongly. Children can spot hypocrites in a flash. It is foolhardy to think of influencing our children for Christ’s sake when we fail to live for Christ.

You set the pace in your personal walk with Jesus. Spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. Gain the substance of a meaningful faith your children can see. In addition, focus on controlling your reactions to your children’s behavior, something you cannot always govern. Excessive screaming, overreaction to problems, and other inappropriate responses diminish your effectiveness as a parent. You can raise your children right and impact future generations by first watching yourself closely. It will not work any other way.

“A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started.” -Abraham Lincoln