Successful Parenting: God's Way
(Message by: Jeffrey Fall - http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/booklets/successful-parenting-gods-way)
Is it merely to bring up children to become independent and competent adults, or is there something more? Read on, for the amazing answer!
Chapter 1: In God's Image (Top of Page)
Yes, our personal example is of the utmost importance! Children must see the real God through their parents' eyes. Young children's perception of God is primarily developed by their parents' example. We cannot hope to rear godly children if we, as parents, are not genuine godly examples. If children see intolerance, hypocrisy, self-centeredness and frequent anger, they will not likely be attracted to their parents' belief system. Instead, the authority figures in their youth will provoke a negative attitude toward God's authority later in life.
Parents need to prove fully, in their present life experience, that God's way of life is of very high value and works for them! If we have not clearly demonstrated to our children that God's principles work for us, how will we ever convince them that God's laws are worthwhile, and that the godly principles we teach are good for them?
As important as our example is, however, it is only a part of the whole. Even if every one of us could become the "perfect parent," our perfection would not guarantee a perfect outcome. The Bible clearly speaks of Adam as "the son of God" (Luke 3:38), yet we know that God refused to force Adam and Eve to make the right decision. God taught Adam and Eve to live His way of life, yet the perfect Parent had children who chose to reject His example and teaching. Later, God's child (Adam) reared a son (Cain) who became a murderer.
So, do we have any hope of rearing children who will commit their lives to God? We live in a world that is under the influence of the "god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). The entertainment media are saturated with the perverted mindset of Satan's way of life. This world's educational system is steeped in the satanic theory of evolution, as well as a continual erosion of any sense of morality or values.
Many people have accepted the satanic lie that God's way of life is a "real drag." They think God restricts us from every pleasure, resulting in a dull life of suffering and self-denial. If this is our image of God, our children will in time notice our approach—and it will become their image of God as well. If, instead, parents are truly thankful for the great God, and grasp the tremendous blessing of understanding God's way of life (which defines what is harmful for us and what will bring an abundant life, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually), our children will internalize this instead.
A Christian's children have a special blessing. The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians that a child with even one converted Christian parent is "holy" (1 Corinthians 7:14)—which means that such a child is unique in God's sight and has been "set apart." But will all such children of believers eagerly respond to God? Their physical parents can play a major role in making it very easy—or very difficult—for them to respond.
Jesus Christ taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is like an invitation to a wedding: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come" (Matthew 22:2–3). As with any invitation, some individuals accept, and some do not even bother to respond. The English words "call" and "invite," found in verse 3, are translated from the same Greek word. To be "called" by God and to be "invited" by God are one and the same.
Here we see that God offers His gift of the Holy Spirit not just to the "you" who heard Peter speaking on Pentecost, but also to those who are "your children"—the offspring of Christian parents—and to those who "are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call"—those whom God will call over time.
For all of these, the promise of receiving God's Spirit is conditional upon seeking and experiencing genuine repentance and surrender in baptism (v. 38). Clearly, though the children of converted parents have potential access to God, not all will seek Him.
Those children who have been taught God's way of life in their childhood will at least have a foundation they can turn to if and when they choose. Of course, Christian parents hope and pray that our children will turn to God now. But if they do not, we can at least know that every moment that we spend teaching them (Deuteronomy 6:4–7), every positive example and every loving concern for our children will not be lost. They will have a positive foundation to turn to before the close of this age, even if it is at the White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–12).
Parents who are begotten "children of God" have a responsibility to help in fulfilling Christ's "great commission" at the end of this age. Their prayers and financial support can help the Work of God in announcing the coming Kingdom of God "in all the world as a witness" (Matthew 24:14). We also find that before the Day of the Lord and the end of the age there will be an effort to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6). The ultimate Father, to whom the hearts of the children must be turned, is God the Father. As we have seen, God's purpose on this planet is to "make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). God is creating future members of His Family, in the spiritual and character image of God as His literal children.
Yes, this is easier said than done, but with God's guidance there is real hope. If we maintain the guiding principle of rearing children "in God's image," we will have all the resources of the Creator God to draw on.
If our ultimate goal as parents is to bring up our children "in God's image," it will become our guiding light and central theme for everything we do in our family. Our real desire then, becomes the creation of a culture of God within our home. One definition of culture that especially applies is "a particular stage of advancement in civilization" (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). In this case, as we advance, it is the "advancement in civilization" of the future Family of God.As parents and grandparents—as for all begotten children of the great God—let us rededicate our lives to turning the hearts of the children to their spiritual Father. This is the ultimate goal and purpose of parenting: to have children "in God's image."
Self-Esteem or Self-Control?
(Top of Page)
Why is parenting so difficult? One obvious answer is that there are so many variables, many of which are beyond our control. Our primary examples in parenting have been our own parents. Whatever we have experienced from our parents is the pattern that is indelibly stamped on our minds, whether good or bad. The example we have experienced with our own parents, of course, cannot be changed; the past is beyond our control. But none of us are prisoners of the past. With God's help, we can change the present!
Even the supposed "experts" on parenting have strongly disagreed among themselves. Over the last century, we have seen wild swings of the pendulum among those who claim to know the answers. Society has debated as to what is most important in parenting: developing self-esteem or self-control? Those who believe self-control is the primary value subscribe to what can be called the authoritarian method of parenting, where: "The parent's word is law, not to be questioned, and misconduct brings strict punishment. Authoritarian parents seem aloof from their children, showing little affection or nurturance. Maturity demands are high, and parent-child communication is rather low" (The Developing Person Through the Life Span, Kathleen Berger, p. 287).
In the early years of our family (which included two girls and two boys, seven years apart), I leaned too much to the authoritarian model, though I have since changed significantly. Fortunately for our children, my wife was more balanced from the beginning, and added a nurturing dimension.
In fact, both are needed to make a strong lasting foundation. The proportions of water and powder must be properly balanced to have any lasting strength. Too much water and not enough cement will make a very weak foundation. Too much cement and too little water will produce a weak and crumbly foundation. Both are crucial for lasting strength.
Children reared by authoritarian parents—who experience strong self-control and discipline without an equal emphasis on self-esteem nurtured with unconditional love—grow up with a sense of never measuring up. They tend not to venture out of their limited comfort zone. Socially they are self-conscious, and they feel insecure and anxious. They grow into teens and adults who are always trying to prove themselves.
What every child needs is a balance of the two, which we could call loving authority. This would consist of equal parts of self-esteem (developed through unconditional love) and self-control (fostered by authoritative discipline and training). Together, these will build a stronger foundation for a child, just as the right balance of powder and water bond together into the most stable concrete.
The Importance of Teaching Self-ControlWhen children are reared in a permissive environment, without real control and guidelines, the price is always high. Jacob Aranza, author of Lord, Why Is My Child a Rebel?, had this to say: "Do you want to know the most bitter, resentful children I've ever met? The kids whose mothers and fathers failed to provide guidelines and discipline. Children who live in permissive homes have trouble believing their parents really care about them" (p. 45).
Some doubt that children really want guidelines. But, in fact, firm guidelines and restrictions provide a measure of safety and security.
The same principle applies to parenting. Take away the guard rail, and the safe and secure limits are gone; a sense of insecurity and a fear of the unknown are always present. An extreme example would be of a child who has become lost in a crowd, and has absolute total freedom. A child's fear of danger when facing the unknown can be overwhelming.
God made this abundantly clear when He inspired the instruction to parents: "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul" (Proverbs 29:17).Have you ever seen a child who was totally out of control, running and screaming and getting into everything imaginable while the mother was shopping? Any parent who ever experiences this becomes totally "stressed out."
Years ago, my wife would take our four children grocery shopping. The youngest rode in the cart, and the older ones walked along holding onto the side of the cart. Our children were normal rambunctious children, but they came to know that the grocery cart was like the guard rail of the Golden Gate Bridge. Cross that rail, and there were serious consequences.
When self-disciplined teenagers reach adulthood, they become much more valuable and successful employees. They tend to be on time to work. They handle difficult assignments with far less complaining, and they do not get caught up in office squabbles with people who may rub them the wrong way. In short, they are more successful in their jobs, they keep their jobs longer—and when it is layoff time, they tend to be the last to lose their jobs, not the first to be fired.
Building Self-Esteem
Of course, parents do not always love a child's behavior, but we do love the child no matter what. God loves us, even though we make our share of mistakes. Christ loved us and died for us, even while we were going the wrong way. "God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Similarly, as adults, if our spouse only loves us when we are doing something pleasing, such as bringing a gift, cooking a nice meal or giving a back rub, we will feel unloved more often than not, and our relationship will suffer. Love must be unconditional!
One vital tool is eye contact. Looking a child in the eyes in a loving manner says, loud and clear: "I value you; you are important to me." Have you ever felt really close to anyone who would not maintain eye contact with you? Of course not! An inability to maintain eye contact comes across as aloofness and lack of caring. For children's emotional well-being, they need eye contact from their parents. Children seem to look deeply into others' eyes, seeing their degree of sincerity and genuineness.
Physical contact is another vital tool needed for showing love to children. Notice how Jesus Christ Himself interacted with young children: "Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me…' And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:13–14, 16).
Children who receive unconditional love, and are taught obedience through loving authority, have the greatest likelihood of success in life. Authority without unconditional love invariably brings anger and rebellion. When the proper balance is applied, God's summary of obedience and self-discipline can be realized: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.… And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training [nurture] and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:1, 4).
Our spiritual Father is totally consistent in how He deals with us, His children. His guidelines are always valid, and His word is totally trustworthy. He does not violate His own spiritual law; His attitude is not: "Do what I say, not what I do."
God tells us: "For I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). This means that God is consistent in His laws, His spiritual principles and His way of life. What if our God were inconsistent?
We often see the fruit of inconsistency in the daily lives of those around us. Years ago, my wife and I watched one such glaring example at the supermarket. A mother with several children was doing her shopping, and her children were wild. They were running up and down the aisles and pulling things off the shelves. Every so often, the mother would yell out in extreme frustration: "Get over here or I am going to spank you!" They would calm down for a moment or two, and they would take off again. After a few minutes, the mother would yell out: "Do you want me to whip you?"
Unlike this harried mother, Jesus Christ and God the Father are totally consistent, for our benefit. They want what is best for us, and they will not confuse us with inconsistency.
Consistency in discipline and parental example is crucial! People most often think of discipline as "punishment," but punishment is only one aspect of discipline. Discipline is "training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental or moral character" (ibid.).
Parents train, or discipline, their children with encouragement, praise and rewards, and also with correction and penalties. This is the same principle that God uses with us. He promises us blessings for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1–14) and correction and penalties (curses) for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15–46).
Consistency with a toddler, with rules and guidelines and punishment for disobedience, leads to consistency as a teen, which leads to consistency as an adult, which can lead to consistency as a future son of God. The process of learning cause and effect—with consistent blessings for obedience and correction for disobedience—is the foundation for future character formation and for a successful life. Parents can either assist God with this process, or can make the eventual conversion process more difficult for their children.
Another popular threat is: "I'm telling you for the last time." Even this threat may become: "This is your last… last chance." I saw one amazing example of this with a young father and his little son: the "three 'no' rule"—meaning that the father's first two "no's" were ignorable; only the third was supposed to count. Yet even after "'no' number three," there was never any follow-up discipline; the father would simply walk over, grab his son, and take him away from whatever he was not supposed to be doing.
Every parent who has disciplined a child has likely found at times that the child was crying not from sorrow or repentance, but from obvious anger. Anger is like a "muscle"—the more it is exercised, the more it will develop. If a child's anger is not addressed, the necessary lesson will not be learned—and nothing will be gained but a hardening of the child's attitude. In this circumstance, it becomes necessary to remind the child why he was disciplined in the first place, and then explain that he will also be disciplined for his attitude of anger. In most cases, the child's attitude will change quickly, and his cry will turn more to a repentant spirit than to rebellion or anger.
Once, one of our sons ran outside, slamming the door behind, rattling the windows with the force of the slamming door. My wife had previously pointed out why slamming the door was not acceptable in our home, so he knew better but had simply "forgotten." When children are quickly disciplined in spite of the excuse "but I forgot," it is amazing how quickly their memory is sharpened. In this particular situation, my wife simply had our son open and close the door quietly 25 times. It really seemed to drive home the point, and his memory was no longer an issue.
Occasionally you hear of people who believe children should never be paid for doing chores. They think it will ruin their character to be paid for their work. Yes, it is true that children should not be paid for routine obedience, such as coming when called or playing nicely with their brothers and sisters. But teaching children the value of the work ethic with rewards is certainly a right principle. Giving children an allowance without expecting anything in return is the wrong principle. Even God promises to reward us for our efforts: "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." (Matthew 16:27) Are we wiser at parenting than God the Father Himself?
"Don't jump on the couch," could be explained, "it will ruin the couch" or "you could fall off and injure yourself" or "it is distracting adults who are trying to have a conversation." Then, after the explanation, every infraction must be followed by further loving discipline.
How crucial it is that we begin to teach our children today, no matter what their age, the vital lesson of "cause and effect"—blessing for obedience and correction for disobedience. This is the foundation for their eventual eternal life. My wife has a "theme scripture" for parenting; she may have "worn it out" on our children, but I am extremely thankful for it: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). This is God's principle of parenting for us as future sons of God. It should also be our principle of parenting, with our own children, for their life-long happiness.
All Christian parents want their children to grow up to really love God and His way of life. We know the tremendous benefits that God's law will bring to our children, both now and in the future—a stable and fulfilling life now, and eventual eternal life in God's family at Jesus Christ's return. All parents want this for their children, but they may wonder: how can parents succeed in "passing the baton" and in teaching their children to want this for themselves?
Passing the baton to the next generation, however, remains a very difficult task in Satan's world. The pervasive influence of mankind's perverse society, supported by Satan's broadcasting as "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), provides a very formidable foe in our attempt to mold our children's hearts and minds in God's image!
Scripture shows us that even the best possible parent will not automatically achieve a perfect outcome. Adam was truly a "son of God" (Luke 3:38), yet God did not force even Adam and Eve to make the right decisions! God taught Adam and Eve His way of life, yet the perfect Parent allowed his children to accept or reject His example and teaching.
The same applies to human parents. Parents cannot force their children to seek God as their Father. But parents can certainly help lay the foundation for their children to have a better life now, and eventually to surrender to the true God. We know from Scripture that God will open the minds of all human beings, either in this lifetime or in a future resurrection, and that most whose minds are opened will choose to receive the tremendous blessings and benefits of obeying the true God.
How, then, can parents begin to transfer to their children the desire to seek God fully? Every salesman knows that to sell his product, he must first create a desire. Parents must somehow help their children desire God's way of life. Children must be brought to understand that God's way of life will benefit them—that it brings very real blessings and rewards for them personally. People are always motivated by what they want—not by what they should want.
The world tries to convince children of a huge satanic lie—that God's way of life is a terrible sacrifice, and a "real drag." When children understand that God's way of life brings blessings and benefits—for themselves, and for their loved ones—they will begin to see through the world's Satanic propaganda, and will grow in their desire to live God's way.
God motivates parents in a similar way. He provides the sure knowledge of tremendous benefit for those who choose to follow Him. Scripture explains that "he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). One who does not believe that there is substantial reward—benefit—in seeking God will never be motivated to follow Him. This applies to parents, and it certainly applies to children.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of the knowledge of blessings for obedience. "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 28:2). Every day, the benefits of God's way can fill our lives: "Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19).
Notice God's instruction to parents: "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children…" (Deuteronomy 11:18–19). The principles of God are to become bound up in our mind (what we think) and in our hand (what we do as an example)—and we must teach them effectively to our children.
Effective Teaching
Children must recognize, by their parents' instruction and example, that God's way of life is loaded with blessings and benefits for them personally. Long before it is asked, parents must help their children answer the question: "Why should I follow God? What's in it for me?" Unless parents can answer this question with honesty and sincerity, they will never reach their children effectively. King David understood this question perfectly, and said: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2).
Of course, parents do not want to create self-centered children who think only of their own benefits. The idea is to help children understand that all of God's laws are for their own good. As children grow, they can then understand, by extension, that God's laws are good for their family and friends—and indeed that every human being will benefit from God's laws and His way of life.
Scripture makes it clear that children can be taught God's way of life most effectively in the home, informally and constantly: "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
Parents should constantly point out to their children the benefits of God's way of life—sitting on the couch watching television, driving down the street, reading the paper and at every opportunity when God's way of life can be contrasted with the suffering that this world's lifestyle brings. There is no shortage of examples in this sick world; the question is: will parents put in the effort? Granted, it takes considerable time and a consistent focus on this meaningful goal, but it has huge payoffs. Relying on church services, by themselves, will not accomplish the task. Parents must reinforce lessons learned in church, wherever possible, with both a mother's nurturing love and gentle teaching, and a father's consistent guidance and support.
Parents will find it helpful to frame God's laws in terms of "cause and effect." Children can easily grasp the "cause and effect" concept when discussing physical laws, such as gravity. If they jump out of a tall tree, gravity will yank them to the ground, resulting in a broken leg or a very painful sprain. The effect (the painful injury) was caused by violating the law of gravity (jumping out of the tree). God's spiritual laws operate the same way. If we violate God's laws, we automatically injure ourselves (or others) in some way. If we obey God's laws, there is an automatic benefit or blessing.
My wife consistently emphasized the choices in our children's lives by maintaining clear rules of the household. When our children disobeyed those rules, we could remind them that they chose to disobey, so they had chosen to receive some form of punishment. This applied in the physical realm as well as the spiritual, as when my wife reminded our children to be very careful with knives, using them only when we gave permission. Our young sons tended to be intrigued with knives' shiny sharp blades, and sometimes attempted to cut into something on their own. When they did, they usually ended up with cuts on their hands. After one such mishap, I overheard one of our children telling my wife what his brother had done, saying: "Mommy, he wasn't supposed to do it, and he punished himself!" At least the concept was making sense!
Helping children understand the causes and effects of all of God's laws is crucial to helping them really want the benefit of God's way, instead of the harm they will do to themselves when they disobey God's laws. Notice God's instruction to us: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing [benefits] and cursing [penalties]; therefore choose [God's way of] life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days" (Deuteronomy 30:19–20).
Every family sets rules for its children. Most parents would never allow their children to run into the street after a bouncing ball; the chance of being hit by a passing car is too great. Clearly, this rule is for a child's benefit and is easy to explain. In the same way, parents can explain to their children that God also has certain Family rules—His laws—that are for our protection. Even by appealing only to a child's self-interest, parents can explain that God's law against stealing, for example, will protect them from possible jail time—or even from being shot at by the one from whom they are stealing!
Parents' goal in parenting is to explain, in language that their children can understand, how all of God's principles are for their own good—and in fact that they are the "blueprint of human happiness." Teaching God's principles on the basis of obedience—"just because God said so"—is a start, but a child's motivation and understanding must go far deeper. The more that parents can frame God's laws by the concept of cause and effect—benefits for obedience and penalties for disobedience—the more likely that children will internalize them. After all, people do not want to harm themselves. We all want the benefit of a good life, full of happiness and joy instead of misery and emptiness. Even "godly" parenting is ultimately deficient if it does not help children understand and truly grasp how God's way of life brings them very real benefits.
Family Testimonies
Family testimonies, or family stories of God's dramatic interventions, healings and other blessings, can help children appreciate the reality of God, and of His loving nature as a living and vital Lord who is personally interested in our lives. Our family tells and re-tells many such stories of how we have experienced, through dramatic healings and protections from accidents, many wonderful examples of God's love, power, mercy and concern for us. We have never claimed to deserve God's intervention, but those interventions have been a frequent reminder to our children of just how loving and merciful our God truly is.
For example, years ago, on one cold and rainy day in the Arkansas Ozarks, we were driving to church. All of a sudden, our car's windshield wipers quit clearing the windshield. We quickly realized that we were being hit by freezing rain. My wife immediately suggested: "We all need to pray that God will protect us." She and our four children closed their eyes and prayed silently for God's protection; I tried as best I could to pray silently while driving. About five miles further along, on the shady north side of the mountain, we suddenly hit "black ice" and began to slide down the road sideways—out of control! Just then, another car coming the opposite way also hit the ice and lost control. We were hurtling toward each other at about 40 miles per hour—a combined speed of about 80 miles per hour if we were to hit each other! It was a sure collision. The thought flashed through my mind: "This is it!" Just at the last possible moment, we felt a tremendous unseen force push us sideways off the road. We came to a soft landing in the mud, hitting nothing. Ten feet further on the left was a large cement culvert, and to the right of the road was a 40-foot embankment leading down to a river. Our hearts were pounding as we realized we were unhurt. We sat there, stunned, extremely thankful for God's intervention.
Over the years, my wife and I have talked with our children about many such dramatic interventions—including many healings. These stories have become our personal family "testimonies" of God's intervention—stories that have reinforced our appreciation of the love, the reality and the power of our God. All parents should regularly share personal testimonies from their own lives, to help bind their children to the real God.
Parents have an obligation before God to do the best they can to train and shape their children's minds in His image. Parents must consistently use every godly tool that is available, knowing that their children will be affected not only by teaching but by personal family stories of God's love and mercy. As children see the example of their parents' lives, they can see for themselves that God's way of life will also benefit them tremendously, and that His laws are for their own good.
Parents' personal example is crucial if children are to see God's way of life as a way of blessings and benefits. Parental example is a form of teaching, in which the lessons are taught by actions, rather than words. There is an old saying: "Your actions speak so loud, I can't hear what you are saying." Children often forget verbal teaching far more quickly than they can forget the vivid example they see daily of their parents' actions and attitudes. Parental examples and attitudes are deeply implanted into a child's subconscious mind, and are later reflected in their children's behavior.
Certainly parents should make it their agenda to teach their children verbally all the principles of God. But if parents' actions do not match their words, the teaching will most certainly be invalidated. As children grow up, they become very gifted at comparing what they hear being taught with what they see in the living example. We must never forget that Jesus Christ taught a way of life, rather than an "ivory tower" philosophy. The moral values that parents exhibit through actions and attitudes in daily life will be the foundation of their children's attitudes, values and behavior.
Even if parents could be perfect in their teaching and example, there is no guarantee that their children will ultimately follow their parents' choice to obey God. However, it can almost be guaranteed that children who experience parental hypocrisy will reject their parents' value system. The importance of parental example cannot be emphasized enough.
Reflecting God's Nature
Respect for God
Parents often shape dramatically their children's respect for God's Church, and for the principles it teaches. If parents continually complain that it is difficult to live God's way of life, is it any wonder when their children grow up to reject "this difficult way of life"? Over the years, I have sometimes heard parents say: "It is so difficult for our teens not to be able to attend sports events on the Sabbath." When parents portray God's way of life as a burden, children will feel disadvantaged. On the other hand, when parents portray God's way of life as an awesome advantage and a blessing, children will value it.
Children who hear parents continually expressing their thankfulness for what God has done in their lives, no matter what their current situation, will benefit tremendously as they begin to acquire the "big picture" from their parents. This life is a training ground for the future family of God, and we will "graduate" to our real career at Christ's return! As children begin to realize what an awesome and very real future they are being trained for, they become more capable of thinking in the long term, as they can begin anticipating and preparing for God's Kingdom.
Parents who are working together—supporting each other as a team, working as a "united front"—multiply the power of example. When children see their parents expressing love and appreciation for each other, with an occasional "I love you" accompanied by a hug, they naturally develop a greater sense of security. The children know they are loved, and they know that the two most important people in their lives love each other. Their world is secure, and they readily desire to follow the pattern of love and security that their parents are demonstrating as the outcome of God's way of life.
Total Truthfulness
True Values
Children also learn much by observing the standards their parents use in valuing other people. In today's society, it seems that the three main false standards of value are power, money and appearance. Parents do their children a huge disservice when they shower extra attention and favor on others with more power, wealth or beauty—they are, in effect, telling their children that they are much more impressed by the world's values than by godly values and character.
Parents who are unduly focused on their own attractiveness can also send the wrong message. Children quickly pick up on their parents' values. Mothers whose dress is immodest—favoring provocative clothing such as tight pants, short skirts or low-cut or clinging tops—are telling their children that such appearance is valued in a wife and mother, and that her main value is her ability to attract attention and even lust. Given such an example, daughters will expect to dress in a more extreme and revealing way than their mothers, and sons will look for the same in a wife. 
God, however, set the standard for godly women when He inspired Paul to write: "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God" (1 Timothy 2:9–10, NIV).This principle, of course, applies equally to fathers. When one's main sense of value and self-worth comes from appearance and clothing, children notice. Also, when children see that their father takes the most notice of a woman's clothing and her body, then this sends the wrong signal. Yes, wives need to know that their husbands find them attractive, but what children really need to hear is that their father deeply appreciates and values their mother's godly traits and character.
Time With God
Children should be able to notice their parents' personal prayer and study time. It is fine, and not to be avoided, for children occasionally to wander into their parents' bedroom and find one or both parents on their knees praying. Such an example will be impressed on their children's minds for the rest of their lives as they recognize their parents' prayer routine as an essential priority in their lives.
When parents consistently pray over each meal, children learn to respect God more than their hunger. Parents can even encourage their toddlers to keep quiet during mealtime prayer, by holding their hands throughout the prayer and showing them how to bow their heads. This way, they not only see the importance their parents place on communicating with the God who is so important in their lives—they also learn early how to model that same respect themselves.
Children should also see occasional fasting as a normal part of their parents' lives, as part of seeking God's guidance regarding what is best for the family, and regarding their personal spiritual growth. As children mature and face key decisions of their own, their parents' example of fasting will become increasingly beneficial. They will come to appreciate God's promise that, if they fast regularly for the right reasons: "The Lord will guide you continually" (Isaiah 58:11). Children who learn this lesson from their parents' example will have inherited a tremendous life-long legacy for success as they learn to turn to God in times of need, decision-making and even repentance.
Parents' example of church attendance will also have a crucial effect on their children. Young people who see their parents reluctantly drag themselves to church, or see them miss frequently, will begin to see church attendance as an option, or as an "obligation" that must occasionally be met to satisfy God or the minister. What a horrendous mistake! By contrast, if children see their parents gladly attending, with the rare exception of illness, they will begin to appreciate their parents' genuine desire to learn more about God and His way of life.
As the years go by, and children see their parents' example of valuing time spent in prayer, Bible study, church attendance and occasional fasting, they will come to appreciate that their parents place the utmost importance on their relationship with God. While even the most outstanding parental example will not absolutely guarantee success in passing along to children the value of living God's way, a poor example will surely hinder children's ability to appreciate their parents' way of life. Christian parents must make it obvious to their children, by the example of both words and deeds, that following the way of life exemplified by Jesus Christ is the true path to joy and happiness.
All too often, parents tend to compartmentalize God in their family life. We view the Christian walk as composed of certain Christ-like behavior patterns, church services, and perhaps occasional family Bible studies. In truth, this is a good start, but there is far more to creating a culture of God within our homes. If we visualize our entire family life as a pie chart, most would view the spiritual aspect of parenting as a small percentage of the whole: simply a small piece of the pie. In contrast, if we truly do want to rear children "in God's image," then the spiritual focus must encompass the entire pie.
What does this mean? Simply that every decision we make as parents should revolve around the question: "Will this increase or decrease the likelihood that my child will grow up 'in God's image'?" Perhaps a father is considering a second part-time job, which would help the family afford a vacation cabin. Certainly the family would value the cabin—but the second job would cause him to spend much less time with his children. So, what would more likely turn the children toward God when they are older: the pleasure of a cabin in the woods, or the presence of a devoted father spending more time each day with his children?
When a family's parenting is guided by this type of priority-setting, a much more stable foundation is being laid, which will dramatically increase the likelihood that children will walk in their parents' spiritual footsteps. Years ago, we hung a plaque on a wall in our home, with a scripture that summarizes this principle: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
What, then, are some of the significant principles that will help us guide our family decisions in this way, creating a God-centered family culture? Let us consider five vital principles:
Principle 1: Go to the source
of true godly culture—God Himself
In and of themselves, parents almost inevitably lack sufficient wisdom and understanding to guide their children's young minds in a godly direction. Adults' primary model for parenting, of course, comes from their own parents. All parents enter the parenting years influenced by whatever flaws were present in their own upbringing. No matter how much we appreciate our parents—most of whom did the best they knew how—the fact is that none of us have grown up with flawless examples by which we can pattern our own parenting. For that matter, none of our parents grew up with ideal examples, either—a pattern that extends all the way back to the first human children, Cain and Abel.
Yet, if we have not laid a godly foundation for our children when they are small, it becomes all the more difficult to establish that foundation when they mature into their teen years. Thankfully, we can turn to the perfect parent, God Himself, and seek His help when we lack what it takes. God tells us in His word that if a parent "does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). God, as our parent, lives by this same principle and is ever willing to give us all the help we need, if we are willing to go to the source.
Parents all too often realize that they lack the necessary wisdom to handle so many of the difficult and frustrating circumstances they encounter in rearing children. In my own family's history, there have been many situations in which my wife or I realized that we were "in over our head." But God has given us—His spiritual children—a promise: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally" (James 1:5).
When a family situation is particularly difficult, it is time to focus even more fervently on seeking God's help, wisdom and direction. Once, when Jesus' disciples were frustrated by their inability to cast out a demon from a young man, Jesus told them: "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29). And so it is with so many difficult problems in life, including parenting—some problems are overcome "by nothing but prayer and fasting." In fasting, we move closer to our God, admitting our weaknesses and our total need for His guidance, wisdom and insight. God promises that when we take this approach of seeking God aggressively through fasting: "The Lord will guide you continually" (Isaiah 58:11). We must be willing to ask, in order to receive!
Principle 2: Be willing to put
your children ahead of yourself
Our human nature—and the world around us—teach a very contrary principle: "Find yourself, discover yourself, and take care of 'number one' because no one else will." But what comes about when we follow the world's advice and make ourselves "number one"? If we do so, and neglect our responsibilities in parenting, we will leave a void in our children's lives—a void that will be filled, by society and by Satan's mindset! Remember, we may neglect our children's upbringing, but Satan will never neglect to do what he can to influence them!
Paul's admonition to the Philippians applies especially to parents. "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:4–5). Most parents—especially mothers—can remember the countless times that they were awakened in the middle of the night by the cries of a newborn baby. It would be a rare parent, indeed, who would simply ignore a newborn's cry with the thought: "I need my sleep; I have to take care of myself." Most parents find that it comes fairly naturally to put the physical needs of their children ahead of their own—but it is rare indeed for a parent to put their children's long-range spiritual needs at the forefront of the family's priorities. Parents need to ask themselves, from time to time: "Have I put the needs of 'self' ahead of the need to rear my children 'in God's image'?" It takes an investment of time to put our children's spiritual needs first, but God wants parents to take advantage of every opportunity to teach their children godly principles. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:7).
Principle 3: Make a godly mindset
the chief influence on your children
It is a high calling for human beings to be given the responsibility of molding young minds in the image of God. We cannot accomplish this by wishful thinking or simply by desire. It requires a huge investment of time and effort, and careful attention to the roles God has given to parents. God wants husbands to be fully supportive of their wives as "keepers at home" (Titus 2:5, KJV). When a wife and mother is able to spend her hours as a full-time "keeper at home," she can create a warm and nurturing environment while serving as the chief influence in forming her young children's character. Sending young preschool children to a day-care center during their formative years dramatically changes the dynamics of rearing children "in God's image." Day after day, children in such situations quickly have their view of life shaped by other children and adults around them. The significant question for a parent becomes: "Do I want my little child's mind formed by our family, or by the world?"
Many parents will say: "Yes, we know that having a full-time Mom at home is ideal, but we simply can't afford it." Sadly, it is often true that a mother must work so that a family can make ends meet. But we should not overlook another vital dimension of help and support: God Himself. He is not limited in resources, nor is He limited in the capacity to provide for His own children. If we turn our desire over to God in frequent prayer, reminding God that we really want our children to grow up loving Him and living His way of life, God will hear! Ask God to show you how to economize or do your part in lowering expenses or increasing income. Often, the seemingly impossible is possible through God, if we fully trust Him, and ask according to His will: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
God's word also tells us: "Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34:10). Since God knows the value of the mother's role at home, we should trust Him to provide so this will be possible. Yes, this may require a family to reduce its physical standard of living, but if the family's chief goal is to bring up children in God's image, God assures us that with His help it is possible!
Many couples discover that when a mother quits working, the family is not nearly as "behind" financially as they had feared. When a working mother gives up her paycheck, she also gives up many extra costs that go with being a working mother: perhaps a second car payment, extra insurance, gasoline, clothes for the workplace, dry cleaning bills, more restaurant meals and packaged foods for the family, and so on. Often, the loss in income is not nearly as great as it might first appear.
When a mother is able to stay at home full-time, young children's sponge-like minds will be guided and shaped primarily by a devoted mother and father, rather than primarily by the world. Though family circumstances vary, it is generally true that the longer a mother can be a full-time Mom at home, the better for the children. An increasing number of parents who have the resources and ability are choosing to "home school" their children, because of concerns about the quality and environment of schools in today's society. Yes, there are cases where a mother must work, and cannot provide an "ideal" environment for her children. This is not an ideal world, and we do have to make the best of circumstances that are beyond our control. Single parents have a unique burden in parenting, which can only be lightened by a very close relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Successful single parents do all they can to seek God's guidance, asking Him to give them added help and extra ability to fulfill the spiritual needs of a young child. God Himself takes a special interest in widows or single parents who are struggling to rear their children "in God's image." God says that He is a "father of the fatherless, a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5).
Principle 4: Cultivate the concept
that "we are different from the world"
Being peculiar—unique—does not mean that Christians are odd, strange or weird! It does mean that they have a different set of standards—God's laws—and a different order of priorities in life: seeking "first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). If children perceive that their parents fear or are embarrassed by being different from the world, they will internalize the wrong standard: that what people in the world think of us is more important than what God thinks of us.
We can help our children value being different—help them value God's ways—by continually emphasizing to them the benefits of God's way of life, as opposed to the natural penalties of following the world. Yes, this does take a huge investment of time and energy, but the reward is immeasurable!
Principle 5: Guard children's minds
from the influence of the ungodly
Some parents, when seeking a neighborhood where they will buy a house or rent an apartment, make a priority of finding a neighborhood where there are many other children with whom their children can play. This is an excellent choice if you want to rear children who spend most of their free time absorbing the mindset of the world. When our family has looked for places to live, we have actually been delighted to find an older neighborhood with few children. Does this mean we wanted to isolate our children? Not at all! Our goal has been to let our children mix with other children in regulated, supervised activities—not in unregulated and unsupervised "free time."
When our children were growing up, we involved them extensively in community athletic leagues. Our two sons and two daughters were involved in such supervised activities as tee ball, baseball, softball, soccer, gymnastics, ballet, tap dance and swimming. They actively mixed with children from all backgrounds, but that mixing was "purpose-driven." Our children were participating in activities where coaching and teamwork were central.
What we sought to avoid were the unsupervised activities with neighborhood children—in the alley, or out in the woods, or at the local hangout or at the movies, or even at friends' homes when their parents were gone. We did not want to give our children a "green light" to mix freely with the world's mindset, which is characterized as having "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons [children] of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). This is not to say that we wanted to separate our children totally from the world; we simply wanted to expose them to the world in a structured and controlled way.
Though we do have friendly acquaintances who are not Christian, God's people should be our true friends, and we should emphasize and teach our children God's key directive that we be "not unequally yoked together with unbelievers\ (2 Corinthians 6:14). This does not at all mean that we think we are better than others, but it does mean that we take God's word and His principles seriously! If we saturate our minds with close friendships in the world, this will, in time, tend to shift our focus away from the Kingdom of God and toward the things of Satan's world.
If we encourage our children, and our teens, to fully intermingle with the world—through neighborhood sleepovers, close neighborhood friends, school dances and dating in the world—we are slowly but surely inviting them to accept the world's influence and mindset. Time spent together is certainly a factor of friendship with the world, and God warns all of us: "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). Close friendships in the world inevitably become an increasing link to this world's society, and to a value system alien to God's people.
This is not to say that all those "of the world" are to be shunned and avoided at all costs. There are many "good" people in society who are doing the best they know how in living moral lives. But if our goal in parenting is to rear the next generation "in God's image," we will increase the likelihood of doing so if we encourage our children to form their closest, deepest friendships with those walking the same path to God's Kingdom. Remember, every aspect of our parenting should revolve around the question: "Will this increase or decrease the likelihood that my child will grow up 'in God's image'?"
Since the central focus of godly parenting is to bring up children "in God's image"—with Jesus Christ's values, thoughts and way of life—a vital aspect of parenting is building children's character through the activities and interactions of the family.
Most children grow up influenced by society through the overwhelming imprint of the school system, the twisted entertainment lessons of movies and television and the pervading influence of peer groups. Parents may try to counter the corrosive effects of society's godless direction with their loving teaching and right example, but an additional component is needed. Here is how God Himself summarized godly parenting:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes"(Deuteronomy 6:5–8).
Notice what parents are told concerning teaching God's principles to their child—to "bind them as a sign on your hand." What does this mean? Binding God's principles "as a sign on your hand" signifies the daily activities of family life! All the verbal teaching
in the world will not be enough if a healthy dose of "character building in action" is lacking! Family activities can be a tremendous tool to teach the principles of God. Yes, children learn much
by "hearing" (parental teaching) and "seeing" (parental example), but there is also much to be learned by "doing" (putting godly principles into action).
So how do family activities and interaction fit in? Family activities are meant to build strong, healthy family relationships. All of God's spiritual laws revolve around developing a strong relationship with God (loving Him above all else) and developing healthy relationships with people (loving others as oneself). As parents develop warm, loving and active relationships with their children, they are laying the foundation for a future warm, loving and active relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ!
By contrast, children who grow up in sterile environments with very little parent/child interaction do not readily develop the capacity to identify with and love God, their spiritual parent. Many children have grown up with uninvolved parents, and as adults feel a great deal of difficulty identifying with the greater authority of God, the ultimate parent. Children who have seen their parents as uninvolved, harsh or judgmental will most likely later in life also perceive God as uninvolved, harsh or judgmental.
It has often been said that friendship is a factor of time spent together. It can also be said that godly character developed in childhood can depend greatly upon quality time spent between child and parent. I have talked with many adults who admit that one of the great voids of their life has been the lack of a mother's or father's active involvement and interest in their childhood. Perhaps the father worked long hours and regularly came home exhausted, only to collapse in front of a television or disappear into some other activity. Or perhaps the mother was primarily involved with a career or her own personal interests, not finding quality time at crucial moments for her children. Whatever the circumstances, without parental involvement many valuable opportunities can be lost in the vitally formative years of a growing child's life. Children primarily left to their own devices, spending most of their time with the television, school friends, video games or the Internet, will begin to identify more with the society around them than with their own parents' values.
Parents who see the value of family activities with warm interactions will find many opportunities to share God's way of life with their children. Children can learn and experience the joy of outgoing concern and compassion for others, teamwork, love for God's creation, the value of close family relationships, and many other building blocks of a Christian life to demonstrate that God's way of life really does work!
What are some specific ways in which parents can use family time and activities to reinforce godly principles?
Recreational Activities
Some parents assume that all recreational activities are created equal, but adult children looking back on their childhood do not seem to agree. When I recently asked my four children what family activities they remember and value the most, they did not mention the trips to Disneyland or other theme parks, or an exotic trip to a Pacific island. What they did remember and value the most was the time spent together in varied activities as a family that involved a lot of talking and shared interaction. As one daughter said, it "had more to do with the family atmosphere rather than the activity itself!"
Interestingly enough, the money spent has little to do with the value of the time spent together. Simple activities, like family hikes along the river where our children grew up, quickly came to mind. These were times to look at a bug, or hear a duck quack as it paddled its way down river, or be amazed at the tremendously varied plant life that grew along the tangled river bank. These opportunities to marvel at God's handiwork on a lazy afternoon gave us a real-world classroom to point out the awesome mind of the Creator, as well as explaining the illogical theory and "religion" of evolution. The time spent together talking, skipping rocks across the river, and helping children over a fallen log along the way, was another way of saying "I love you; I am interested in you, and I care about what you are thinking." Obviously, busy parents could always be doing something seemingly more valuable at home but children build strong family bonds, one moment at a time.
Hanging on my study wall is a photograph I value greatly. My sons and I are wearing backpacks, with snow-covered mountains in the background. We had decided, while the boys were still teens, for the three of us to hike part of the stunningly scenic John Muir Trail in the Sierra Mountains of California. In preparation, we decided on a fitness routine incorporating weightlifting and running. The three of us were motivated by each other, and I faced the harsh reality of seeing teenage sons that could out-lift me in weight training and out-do me in our running! It became a year-long effort with a goal that became contagious, and drew in our youngest daughter as well! The respect and camaraderie we shared formed a bond of which we still have very special memories. We worked hard together, planned for and accomplished the hike that will always stand out in our memories!
More recently, two of our children accompanied my wife and me on a day-long hike snowshoeing to the very edge of a 3,000-foot cliff overlooking Yosemite Valley in the renowned Yosemite National Park. For a beginning snowshoe experience, it took a lot of effort huffing and puffing through miles of snowy terrain. As we finally reached the car at the end of the day, our son stated, "Activities like this, in which we work hard and tire out together, seem to pull us together in a special way." How true this is! It is not hours spent sprawled on the living room couch watching a movie without moving a muscle that builds family bonds and godly family values. No, it takes time spent together interacting. The goal then is for parents to always be striving to "work in" or highlight some character-building principle, while having a good time as a family.
So many other opportunities abound in which parents can incorporate activities into events that help children develop right character, as well as rounding out their interests, education, and social opportunities. Visits to historical locations and museums emphasizing the contributions of those who preceded us in our national history help to teach the lesson of appreciating the contribution and sacrifice of others. Additionally, an occasional cultural event such as taking in an uplifting and inspiring concert helps children learn and appreciate music of balance and harmony. With a little effort it can be pointed out that God appreciates balance and harmony in music as well as in His creation and all aspects of a godly lifestyle.
Balanced Work Ethic
Today, children often grow up with one of two opposite attitudes concerning the value of work. Some children acquire from their parents the assumption that work is an evil to be avoided if at all possible. Countless millions of individuals lavish any extra money they have on state lotteries, casino gambling or sports betting, looking for the "one big hit" that would free them from the drudgery of work. Other children see their parents existing for years on the welfare rolls, putting little effort into changing their difficult situation and lifestyle.
At the opposite extreme are the many parents who work very hard at trying to get ahead in life, but who sacrifice their children along the way. They think that if they just work long and hard enough, and finally earn enough money, their children will have the "good life." In truth, many children receive an abundance of electronic "toys" bestowed by guilt-ridden, hard-working and seldom-seen parents. These children would benefit so much more from the example of parents who not only provide for their children's basic physical needs, but also provide for their emotional and spiritual needs by investing time in their children's thinking process, personality and spiritual development, while taking the time for some laughter along the way.
Group work projects involving both parents and children can go far in helping instill a balanced work ethic in their children. Working together as a family helps to instill the value of work along with a sense of teamwork and "pulling your own weight." The process of working together contributes to a "we" rather than an "I" mentality, contributing to their sense of a secure belonging within the family unit. In our family, the most frequently used work projects involved the yard, where everyone could lend a hand no matter what the age. There always were leaves to rake, plants to prune, weeds to pull, floors to sweep and lawns to mow.
Our children often recall with laughter that their mother's favorite Mother's Day activity was a family work day in the yard. After a hearty breakfast, when the handmade cards had been read, her request for the day was that we all spend a few hours with her in the colorful flower beds, pruning bushes and roses together as a family. Yes, the children probably would have preferred to be swimming or enjoying some other activity, but they certainly did learn that working together produced a very appreciative mother—along with a beautiful yard toward which we had all contributed, and could all enjoy together. Their mother had worked and sweated along with the rest of us, even on Mother's Day.
Every family's situation is different, and not everyone has a yard that can be the focus for children learning to work together, but the inside of the house or apartment is always a work opportunity just waiting to happen. There are always rooms to vacuum, bathrooms to clean, windows and mirrors to wash and trash to empty. One key is for children to be assigned age-appropriate jobs, with everyone working together along with one or both parents.
While we wanted our children to know that their contribution was expected as family members, we still recognized that family chores can also be the vehicle for lessons of money management. We decided to set varying monetary amounts for various chores, with some jobs assigned daily, some weekly and others dependent on the individual child's personal industriousness and how much they wanted to earn. It was interesting to see the individual natures of the four children: some spent their small earnings quickly on small items, and some saved and never spent. With time, they all came to realize that most everything material in life must be earned, and hard-earned dollars can quickly be spent and lost on items that have no lasting or redeeming value.
Seeing to it that children have family chores and a proper work ethic, also develops the key concept of responsibility. This contributes to a sense of belonging to the family unit, and can help develop a sense of personal satisfaction in being successful at finishing their assignments or commitments. Responsibility also helps to prepare them for the real world of adulthood, where following through on assignments in college and later on the job can be crucial to their success. Ultimately, the strong concept of personal responsibility will better prepare them in their commitment to God, His spiritual laws and His way of life.
Outgoing Concern in Action
If our children are going to grow up really wanting to follow their parents in seeking God and living a life "in His image," it is absolutely essential that children learn this core trait of God, through the actions of the parents! Obviously, outgoing concern must be experienced and shown consistently, day by day, from parent to child, as well as between husband and wife. If this is not the case, all the preaching and teaching in the world by the parents will not accomplish the desired goal. Children are very observant critics, often citing hypocrisy as a reason for abandoning their parent's belief system. This consistency of outgoing concern for others is the basis of the Ten Commandments, of which the first four require outgoing love for God, and the last six require outgoing love toward all other people.Less commonly practiced is the outgoing concern that children need to see directed to others outside the immediate family. If this godly trait is only directed within the family, children can readily grow up to be self-centered and uncaring toward others. A child or parent who only sees the need for outgoing concern within the family will never see the need of the very Work of God in which the Church has been commissioned to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel" (Mark 16:15). Christ made it clear that "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
Tithes and offerings given freely to God's Work help children realize that the world is a much bigger place than just their immediate family. Children can be emotionally involved and excited in seeing where their offerings and tithes go, becoming aware of the benefit to others. For example, when our young daughter realized that her contribution covered the cost of printing and mailing a church booklet to some person watching our church's television program, she decided to increase her offering, excited to realize that she, as an individual, played a part in the larger "Work" of God. Family discussions and prayers help focus young minds on the bigger picture of the meaning and goal of life, giving children a positive outlook on a plan so much larger than our physical existence. Parents' non-judgmental and positive approach will help children develop a strong desire to choose to be a part of the spiritual body of Christ as they mature.
Children's real-life personal involvement in giving of their time is also a key element in developing their concern for others. Some years ago, our family participated in an "Adopt the Elderly" program with older members of our church. At first, we were participating to be supportive of the elderly in their loneliness. Little did we realize that there would be many rewards and benefits not only to us, but to our children as well! In preparation for each visit, we reminded our children that while their "real" grandparents were not in the area, the elderly in the Church were "related" through the same "spiritual Father," so they could look to them as a type of grandparent as well. Our children began looking forward to the visits, and started taking cards, cookies or drawings to these new "grandparents." The children learned to listen quietly to stories told, looked carefully at objects of interest shown to them, and developed an interest in a bygone era to which they had not previously given much thought. They enjoyed the individual love and warmth that was reciprocated to them!
God's Way Works!
The experience of parenting can be one of the most challenging and difficult tasks in a parent's life, yet it has the potential of being the most fulfilling and richest experience in life! Frustrations, concerns and worries may abound, yet nothing is more satisfying to parents than seeing their children sincerely enjoy living God's way of life. We understand that not every child reared in the Church will "catch the vision" and develop "in God's image," but it is a given that our efforts are never wasted! Even if they veer from the direction learned within the home, our children who have been taught and seen demonstrated God's way of life in their childhood will have a foundation on which they can rely, whether in this life or in God's Kingdom.
There is no richer inheritance that parents can give their children than to see, hear, and experience the fullness of the blessings that come from choosing obedience and fulfillment in God. Parents who devote the time and the commitment—showing genuine love and interest in their children—will receive a reward that will bless them, and their children, to the end of their days! "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them" (Psalm 127:3–5).
