The Bible frequently refers to children as divine gifts and blessings bestowed upon families. They are considered a reward and a privilege, necessitating care and guidance to develop into healthy, flourishing individuals. The goals of Christian parenting should be to guide children to a saving faith in Christ, set children on a path to maturity, and bring children to the full measure of God’s glory.
Here are some tips to help you meet those goals:
- Talk about how much God loves your child(ren)
- Talk about how sin affects relationships and teach them right from wrong
- Create a culture of forgiveness within your home.
- Parent with unconditional love – bad behavior is a condition, not a bad person. Parenting is not controlling behavior, but the heart condition of the child.
- Don’t take it personally. Regulate your own emotions before responding to your child, and know how you want difficult interactions to end before they begin.
- Begin with the end in mind. Know the character you want your child to have as an adult and teach (not discipline) toward that goal.
- Model faith and character.
- Don’t parent on autopilot. You must enter their world and have their hearts before being able to speak into their lives. Be a part of your child’s daily life and spend quality time together.
- Incorporate your village. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people
falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” - Commitment to the long game because change is a process.