Want secure children?
A couple of weeks ago my girls asked me if they could go to a friend’s house to watch a DVD. After the choice of movie was researched and discussed, and we had prayed for wisdom, Steve and I had no peace about the girls watching it. So I gathered my three teenage girls at the table, and we had a talk. “I know you don’t want to disappoint your friends,” I began, “but Dad and I are not comfortable about you watching that movie.” They had a few questions (mostly “why”) and the thought of telling their friends they couldn’t watch the movie was not exactly something to be relished. However, as we stood to resume our other tasks, one of the girls lifted her face with a smile and said, “Mum, when you and Dad make hard choices like this for us, it makes me feel good. Being under your parental authority takes pressure off us in difficult situations. Thanks for explaining things to us so that we understand the reasons you are making this choice for us.”
Security. That’s what the boundaries made by loving parents give to a child. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries for your children; it is the mark of a caring parent.
If you are left without discipline,. . . . then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Hebrews 12:8
Contrary to most modern fairy tales, following the desires of our hearts is not the key to a happy ending. Setting and maintaining boundaries (discipline) is.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
So go ahead–put up godly boundaries of behaviour, speech, attitudes, and choices for your children and help them to keep them. And thank God that His Word gives light to make a secure path for our children.
When you comment, please keep these guidelines in mind. You can find an explanation of our commenting guidelines here.
Stay connected by subscribing to our RSS or email feed! Or print this post.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
Comments
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
great post Jane, I also wanted to do a post on your article last week but couldn’t re humanitarian assistance as we preach the Gospel.
thanks for your unique input and perspectives on Infocus
Mmm. That was helpful to me.
Very good post. Very thought provoking and applicable. Thanks for that! =)