Family Friday: What story are you giving your children?

 

We read quotes and hear others say, “everyone has a story”, or “once you’ve heard their story, you’ll understand why they are the way they are”.

These statements sound cliché, but are so very true. As parents we have a very important job at hand. We are molding and shaping our children’s character, mannerisms, behavior and sense of self-worth on a daily basis. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” God is very clear about how important our job is as parents.

What kind of story will our children have to tell? Have you equipped them with the necessary spiritual, physical and emotional tools with which they can accomplish life to its fullest as an adult? Or, are we too busy with our job, church ministries, social media and daily events to stop and give our children the time, training, and love they need.

It can seem overwhelming, at times, and God knows that we can’t do it by ourselves. We, as parents, must first realize that our own lives must be consecrated and yielded to the Lord. We must daily walk with God, ask Him to give us the strength, power and wisdom to be consistent in our expression of love and in our daily teaching. If our lives do not reflect what we are trying to pass on to our children, they will see the hypocrisy and choose a different direction once they are out of our homes.

What chance are we giving our children? When they become adults, will their lives reflect a beautiful story of a God-centered home where love abounded, or will they be a wounded grown-up with a long, sad story to tell?

What an amazing opportunity we have!