Attention parents...
Hey mom's and dad's, on this “day after Mother’s Day” I thought I might take a minute to remind us of our charge; our obligation to those under our care. Whether your children are yet unborn, long out of the house, waiting for you in heaven or somewhere in between, there’s something here for you. On this Monday morning, why not try to tackle each of the following “mother” tasks at some point during the coming week?
- Tell each one of your children that you love them. Not an impersonal “I love you,” but a “look ‘em in the eyes and make sure they know you mean it” I love you.
- Address one unattractive habit that has mastered your child. From biting their nails to saying the impulsive ‘Oh my God,’ your children need specific guidance when it comes to those issues that are uncomely, unholy and/or unflattering.
- Think of one particular area where your child excels and make a point of complimenting them. Don’t overlook a single thing and make sure your flattery is genuine.
- Consider which of your child’s all-important character traits needs correcting…and correct it! Maybe they’ve fallen into a pattern of lying; perhaps their disrespect for you has come to a head; maybe unkindness is dictating their manner of speech or perchance laziness has become their best friend. Whatever the issue, the training of character falls solely on you (and your spouse). And if you’re lax, they’ll be lax.
- Subscribe to their dreams and get to know what really makes them tick (not what you hope will make them tick). Maybe you’re hoping for a piano player but your child is making great strides in the world of photography. Maybe you’re pushing them toward the field of medicine but they are passionately headed toward the mission field. KNOW what drives them and help them pursue it.
- Make the decision to correct a failed disciplinary strategy. Whether it’s counting to three or ineffective timeouts, nagging or yelling idol threats, your home will never be at peace as long as your child does not have a healthy fear of you and the godly standards you’ve established. Remember, the only consequence that really works is the consequence your child dreads receiving.
- Engage your children in spiritual discussions. Whether they are little ones learning Bible stories or teenagers learning abstinence, fill them up with godly truth and sound, Biblical advice (yes, you’ve got to spend time with the Lord yourself in order to fulfill this goal…).
- And finally – pray, pray, pray! Pray for them, with them and about them. Pray before they wake up and then pray with them before they go to bed. Pray as a family, pray as marriage partners. Teach them to pray individually and always pray together at mealtime. Pray in a restaurant, pray for every big decision and lay hands on them in prayer before they walk out the door.
See if you can accomplish at least one of each of the above duties. Each one is Biblical; each one works.