“Loving God, Learning His Word, Living for Christ, Leading Others to do Likewise”

What Does It All Mean?

I heard Dr. Gary Sibcy, clinical psychologist, speaking to parents this week. He said, “Children are amazing observers but terrible interpreters.” Our children “catch” everything and process most of what they catch incorrectly. He went on to say that we must spend at least 15 minutes of devoted time with each of our children daily to help them navigate life.

Our children catch our moods, our words, our tones, plus all of the other information coming at them daily; however, they misunderstand the true meaning of it all. This is understandable, considering they have such a limited life experience to process it all through. Without being skilled in interpreting life and what it means, they have a tendency to make things personal that have no reflection on them. As our culture spirals out of control, how do we as parents walk with our children through this with the hopes of bringing benefit to them?

Dad speaking to son

Our contemporary culture is not child friendly and certainly not a responsible resource that we want to expose our children to in order that they might learn something about the benefits of living in a free nation and breathing the air that we breathe. It is beneficial to model and teach our children gratefulness to God, the Creator. God’s Word declares that it is God who has the ultimate authority and it is only by “His mercy” that a life will turn out all right. Mercy is “not” getting what we deserve. His Word further tells us that His mercy is new every morning. Lamentations 3:23 (NLT): “Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” God is faithful.

Further, we instruct them to pray in the name of Jesus who has been given “all” authority. Matthew 28:18 (NLT): “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.’”

We also may point out to them the things that God’s Word says He does not like. Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT): “There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things He detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.”

We also can obey God’s Word by praying for all who are in authority and claim His promise that this pleases Him. First Timothy 2:1-3 (NLT): “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.”

As a parent you want to bless your children when they please you and do as you say; we learn that from our Heavenly Father who will do the same.

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Anita Blake

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