Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. – Proverbs 22:6 NLT
The Joy of Parenting
Parenting is one of the most profound honors. It is a blessing from God to multiply and fill His creation as we teach our children to love God with their entire lives––heart, soul, mind, and strength. But that doesn’t come without its challenges. Proverbs tells us that when we direct our children onto the right path, they will most often remain on that path. But that isn’t always the case. Even the best parents have the potential to see their children go wayward.
Lead Your Children with Confidence
However, God doesn’t want us to parent with fear or anxiety for the future. He wants us to look at each day with confidence, seeing them as an opportunity to take one step in the right direction. Just as we grow day-by-day in our relationship with the Father, so too will we grow day-by-day as parents in our relationship with our children.
The more we can be transparent with (and apologize for) our shortcomings as parents and direct our children’s focus to a perfect Heavenly Father, the more we set them up to trust us––and more importantly, trust God––as they grow and mature. This is the heart of Proverbs 22:6.
Below are five keys to effective parenting:
1. Establish Your Family’s Values
Whether you call it a Family Code, House Rules, Family Motto, or any other similar idea, establish the values your family holds together. Take careful consideration into how each one builds up your family around the characteristics of God. Then, talk about each value with your children and allow them to share their thoughts––how they see it being incorporated into their lives, what they like about them, what they don’t, etc.
2. Schedule Regular Check-Ins
Be proactive in how your family gathers together to check in on one another. Find a rhythm that works best for your family––twice a week, once a week, every other week––and stick to it. Use this time to ask about highlights, areas of growth, struggles, frustrations, etc. Be attentive, understanding, and patient so everyone gets a turn, feels heard, and walks away encouraged and equipped.
3. Model Both Love and Respect
Most of the lessons your children will learn from you are “caught, not taught.” That is to say, they imitate your behavior, regardless of what you say. If you tell them to live one way, but don’t model it for them, they’ll often default to following in your footsteps. Model a life of both selfless love and respectful living. This will solidify their trust in you and understanding of the importance of your family’s shared values.
4. Make Time for Fun
Balance out the structured time of connecting with time for fun. This can be an impromptu walk around the block or going out as a family for a Saturday treat like ice cream or a movie. Don’t make this about going over values or uncovering any shortcomings. This time is all about building relationships centered around joy, safety, and the enjoyment of time together.
5. Be Mindful of Outside Influences
There will come (at various stages) times to send your kids out––when they start going to school, dropping them off with friends at the mall, or when they move out on their own. The reality is, you won’t always be nearby to watch out for dangers. While that may seem scary, it should be a motivation to watch over them now, teaching them how to identify good and bad influences, so they can do it when they’re on their own. Look forward to the day that you can look at your independent children and say, “I’m proud of who you’ve become.”
Below are some Scriptures to help you know what God says about our role as parents. If you want prayer or need to talk about your current situation, please call our Pastoral Care Team at 800.525.5683.
Additional Scriptures:
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. – Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. – Proverbs 22:6 NLT
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NLT
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. – Hebrews 10:25 NLT
