Mom's Blog - He is faithful!!

With seven children, ages 13 to 23, I am often asked by parents of very young children how we have raised ours.  Since this seems to be of widespread interest, I have decided to address the topic here.  The very first lesson to be addressed with a child is obedience to authority.  When I am asked about home education possibilities I explain to parents that until your child is obedient you really cannot teach him effectively.  At our house obediece is to be immediate and cheerful.  And mom, you cannot teach this to your children if you do not immediately and cheerfully submit to your husband.  Your children are watching your example more than listening to your words. 

 A home can be likened to a business.  If you work for the good of the company, obey the boss, and generally make yourself indispensable, you have rather good job security.  The family runs smoothest under the same conditions.  In a company, you may not think the owner or boss always makes the wisest decisions, but if you value your job, you make the boss happy, and save your suggestions for a tactful moment.

One of the most important points in raising children is spending time with them–LOTS of it!!!  A ”keeper at home”  has the best opportunity to influence her children because MANY topics come up in an unscheduled manner–things you wouldn’t even think of scheduling a talk about.  Virtue is taught to children “line upon line, precept upon precept,” every day.

When children spend time with their own age group every day, they become more dependent on the opinions of their peers than they care what you think about issues.  Wise young people are those who have spent much time with wise people.  Wise parents are those who have spent much time in prayer and in God’s Word.  Wise children spend much time in prayer and in God’s Word.

Here’s the best child rearing tip I know.  At some time in the life of most children, the parent will sense that an internal struggle is going on inside their child.  When you have done all you know to do and said all you know to say, and shared all the scripture you know to be applicable, you have come to the end of your own wisdom.  At this point you are desperate (hopefully).  Get on your face before God, and CRY OUT to Him for His Wisdom.  Let God know your desperation, your total inadequacy, and ask Him what you are to do.  He never fails!  He will put an idea in your head of something you are to do or say.  Perhaps He will teach you through a scripture that will come to new light for you.  Whatever He does, it will be exactly what this child needs and will help the child over this spiritual hurdle. 

Perhaps at a later date we will discuss the helpfulness of understanding what some term the child’s motivational spiritual gift.  This has been an immeasurable help to our family.  Maybe we will talk about disciplinary techniques we have used; but the best advice there, is already discussed thoroughly in the Bible.  We can help you find it; but it is up to each of us to apply it.

The bottom line is, take parenting very seriously.  Let God know you do.  Remember Moses told God he was so serious about his responsibility to the Israelites that he requested that his own name be blotted out of God’s book if he couldn’t intercede for his people.  God knew he was serious.  How serious are you?

 Do all you can to raise wise and godly children; but KNOW THIS: ultimately it is God who works in the life of your child.  Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.  We are stewards of the children. They belong to God. There is no room for self-exaltation. God is Sovereign!