Raising Great Kids

Raising great kids is not just trying to help our child make good choices and become a good adult.  It’s also about being the parent I need to be.  Children learn by what is “caught”, not necessarily what is taught.  How many times do we catch ourselves telling them, “Do what I say, not what I do!” 

Successful parenting begins with me, the parent.  Am I following and obeying God?  That’s what we want our child to mirror.  Am I enjoying my life? Praising God in everything?  When I wake up each day, do I think of the problems and the work of parenting, and get discouraged? Or feel stuck?  There’s something I can do about it, to be the parent I need to be.  Take a quarter and hold it in your hand, tails side up.   This side represents the problems you see.  Now, turn it over so the heads side is up.  This represents God. 

“Cast all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me.”   Matthew 11:29  Jesus’ yoke is light.  It is rest.  It’s not a burden, but a joy.   

“Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks.”  I Thess. 5:16-18    As we “act out” praising God (in spite of, or because of, how we feel) our spirits will lift.   Knowing that He is God and that He is in control gives us peace and confidence.  Now take that quarter and hold it close to your eye.  When it’s that close, all you can see is the coin, right?  Sometimes, all we can see is our problem, because it’s right in front of us.  Now, extend your arm all the way and hold the coin towards the sun.  If you could look at your coin now, the sun would surround the coin.  Jesus surrounds us with His love and light (wisdom).

As we live out our faith, there will be times we stumble and fall.  But when we allow Jesus to hold our hand, we get back up again and walk with Him.  We can do it!  And if we do it, they will too!