They try you, they test you, they do almost anything to get on your last nerve. They’re going to definitely let you know they have a voice and…they are yours. They belong to you…a gift from God…or is it?
Well yeah, they were given to you by God and you love them unconditionally. At times, you feel like you want to give them back and may even threaten to do so. Remember the old adage “I brought you into this world and I’ll take you out.”
I think every child growing up in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s must have heard that at least once in their life. And when they did hear it they knew their parents meant business. They knew they had to straighten up or pay the consequences.
But the trying and testing done by children back in the day was nothing like it is now. The children today don’t usually pay any consequences and that’s our fault. We must teach them that there’re consequences for their actions. Good or bad.
They are very self-serving. They’re also winers who have entitlement issues. And you know what…we did that too, we raised them that way.
We’re supposed to be raising God-fearing, respectable people to take over for us one day, but we aren’t.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with teaching a child to love him or herself, they should. But we must also teach them balance. And by balance I mean, love yourself but love, respect and have empathy for others as well. Know that for everything they do there’s a consequence.
Children must learn that the sun doesn’t revolve around them only, it revolves around all of us. A lot of us coddle and baby them so much and I think this causes then to think that way. That whatever they do, it’s alright. Well it’s not alright and especially when they are disrespecting to others as well as their parents.
They don’t respect their teachers, they don’t respect their elders or anyone and I think it’s because we don’t teach them to. Some of us even teach them to lie their way out of situations instead of teaching them to own up to the truth.
So we need to go back to the drawing board. We have to teach them about God first and foremost. With this foundation the respect and discipline will come easier.
You’re still going to get the trying, testing and rebellion. I think this has got to be “Teenager 101” and we can’t get around it, but our children will be more apt to think about what they do and make a conscience decision whether to do it or not.
Even when they make wrong decisions and they will because they’re young and because we all do, they will be more inclined to admit they’ve done something wrong and ask for your forgiveness.
Raising children is a job we all signed up for when we decided to get pregnant. A job we can’t just quit or call out sick for. Well, maybe if you have a spouse you can be sick some of the times but for the most part you’re expected and supposed to be there for your child or children. It’s a part of your growing as well as theirs.
But you know what, children are a joy and we’re glad we have them. They make life a little more tolerable sometimes. This is what we have to think about when we get to those teenage years because otherwise if we could, there would be a lot of sending them back. (smile)
So, we must take the good with the bad because we have to and because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He’s who we must look to in those trying and testing times and who we must thank in those peaceful times. He’s who will see us through whatever may come our way.
So know that with children we have to take the good with the bad. It’s called life!
Philippians 4:13
