Lead Your Children With Godly Example

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’ (Proverbs 22:6); ‘Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.’ (Psalm 127:3); ‘Children’s children <Grandchildren> are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.’ (Proverbs 17:6)

Children should never be political pawns, or be commodities for gain.  Children should never be forced into the mold their parents, teachers, or government want them to conform into.  All these things come from selfish ambitions, and not in the child’s best interests.  Children do often follow into their parents’ footsteps (though many do not) but that should be their choice to make when they reach adulthood. 

What should a parent or an adult leader do for children?  Be an example; be a Godly parent, grandparent, neighbor, etc. to children, especially leading them by example on how they should worship, how they should act and respond in various scenarios, and encourage them to not be sheep and simply follow the ‘flavor of the week’ but have critical thinking skills. 

At the same time, Godly wisdom and common sense (unfortunately not so common anymore) by parents or grandparents should be used to correct the children when they are doing wrong or are in need of acting in their best interests, though they don’t want to.  Kids need to take showers, for example; if your kid stinks, it’s OK to ‘persuade’ them (I recommend a good tap onto the gludeo-maxo, your mileage may vary) to have them bathe.  Get them to go to church; even our adult children sometimes need prodding when they come visiting, but they need to come and hear the Word. 

There are decisions children need to make as they grow into adulthood; give them some easy choices early (‘pick out the shirt you’re wearing to school’) and then later let them make bigger decisions (if you saved enough money, you can buy whatever bike you choose).  Some decisions, hold them to ‘not in my house’, especially when it comes to permanent choices, like going to college, trade school or getting a job (staying at home to mooch was never a choice for our kids). 

As adults, they then can make those hard choices, but sometimes they will have to learn the ‘hard way’ (experience) vice the ‘easy way’ (listening to Mom and Dad). Continue to encourage them; don’t be afraid to tell them they messed up, but continue to love them and give them ways they can correct course.  And yes, if they need a helping hand, help them – but you can put limits and it’s OK to say ‘no’ if their need exceeds your help.

Be firm and fair, allow them to develop into who they want to be, but remind them of who they are; creations of the Creator, who God loves and wants them to follow Him.  We should not ever try to mold children into our ‘image’, but try to have them molded into the image of God.