Tip Thursday
Raising good kids is not the goal
I loved raising children that behave well in front of others. It was pleasant for me and my children. It was pleasant also that they didn't make those extreme decisions that left them with scars on their hearts. I am grateful for all of that. I encourage you to do the same.
I also want to encourage you again, that whereas raising good children is a great thing, the best thing is raising children that know how to repent. For those that may want a definition: admit that what they/we are doing is wrong and ask God to forgive us and help us stop doing it. Kind David in the Bible was not the best behaved person, but God called Him a man after His own heart. One thing I'm certain of, all of us will continue to sin or do wrong all of our lives. What a gift if we know how to admit our wrong and accept the consequences rather than blaming others! (We hear about that often these days - those that blame others.) Train your children that it is best to admit when they are wrong. Call it what it is. Instruct them that there is a Father who will forgive and help them. (This is best taught when we model that same forgiveness and help as their parents. Accept their honesty and encourage it. Tone down our frustration and anger. Help them to fix the situation with integrity.)
As adults, we have the same options as our kids. We can pretend we are not at fault - the other person caused us to react badly. Or i have changed my mind and will not do that again, or i am just like that (outspoken, bossy, etc.) Or we can accept, like David, that we did wrong, pray for forgiveness and help to stop doing that. (Even as good people, we daily get to make these choices DAILY.)
This week I had the opportunity to say: I changed my mind and will do something differently or I was wrong and will believe God to act on this situation. Never easy to admit sin, but necessary for those, us and our children, who want to be more like David and have a heart following after Jesus. May God bring us all back to the simplicity of repentance and recognition that we are not perfect.
(Leave me a comment in a reply below. I love hearing from you!)
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