From time to time I compare and contrast how my parents raised me with how I want to raise my own children. I was born with an under developed kidney that caused me to be very sick for the first few months of my life. The Doctors had to wait until I was old enough to do surgery before they could take out the organ that was poisoning my system. From everything I have heard that was a very dramatic experience for my parents. It was then that God spoke to my father and told him that I would not die, but I would live and become a preacher. It was also then that they probably decided not to have more children simply because the weight of stress was more than they could bear.
Follow up on Question about Parenting
Following our recent series on the “Incredible Family” we recieved several questions about dealing with rebellion in the hearts of young children. Recently I heard a series of messages by Pastor Allister Begg that I thought might be helpful to some of you. He has been teaching on the subject, “Teach Your Children Well”.
Q and A – How much X-Box is too much? (Seriously)
That is totally your call. Teens many times don’t think they feel. That is why they become addicted to things rather easily. They need you to think sensibly for them at times. That is the role of the parent.
Q and A – How do you work with a preschooler who is developing a bad attitude?
Discipline attitude as much or more than actions. A child’s actions may be inappropriate but his or her attitude may be fine. For example we don’t allow our kids to eat in their rooms (most of the time). When we moved into our new home our son forgot the rule and took cereal into his room. Now his attitude wasn’t rebellious, but his actions were against what we had told him. We simply forgave him and encouraged him not to do it again. On another occasion we reminded him of a rule – as he obeyed, he stomped his feet, stuck out his lip and pouted. We punished him for that one.
Recommended Reading for Incredible Family Series
As we prepare for the Incredible Family Series, I wanted to give you some suggested reading for further study.
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.
When People are Big and God is Small by Edward Welch (P&R Publishing, 1997).
Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat (Baker Publishing Group, 1997).
Video: Song of Solomon series by Tommy Nelson.
Video: Successful Christian Parenting [...]
