Family and Faith Magazine June-July 2015 | Page 27

PARENTING
We may be thinking "this child must
not want for anything in life. I must
give her everything", or "they must
know they always must have the best,
because they're the best", or even
"this boy must know who is boss now,
so one day he can be a boss like me".
It's the thinking behind our actions
or inactions that result in our raising
children that won't give two-shakes
about us later. Most of what’s in their
heads started with what's in ours, and
most of what's in their hearts starts
with what's in ours.
Here's what I believe is the best
philosophy for good parenting - "Lo,
children are the heritage of the Lord…"
(Psalm 127:3). Why? Because thinking
from this perspective allows us to be
guided by a sense of purpose, and the
notion that ‘they belong to God' and
are 'sent to us', with 'a purpose from
Him'. That way we remember that we
are accountable for them, not to them!
Parents must be cognizant that God has
allowed us to have these children, and to
have them in our care, and He will call us
to account for what we "put into them".
He requires us to "Train up a child in the

“

Lo, children are the heritage of the Lord…
(Psalm 127:3)

way he should go:" so that "when he is
old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs
22:6.) Our thinking must first be of
'accountability', in order to raise 'grateful
children'.
And what do the children primarily need,
apart from accountable parents? Every
child needs faith. They'll need to know
their parents are living accountable lives
and that they must do the same. They'll
need to believe that someone bigger than
themselves and their parents is requiring
something of them.
I could suggest