One summer morning, I was hanging out with one of my friends. We were getting into the car. I put my one year old daughter in first. To avoid being strapped in, she climbs to the other side where my friend is standing on the outside of the door. As I am about to grab her, I see that she has something in her hand that she is looking at. I couldn’t believe my eyes. If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I probably wouldn’t have believed it! Between her thumb and pointer finger she was holding a wasp. The way she was holding it, was preventing her from being stung. How am I supposed to keep her from being stung? I knew if I panicked then she would panic. I had to stay calm and not put fear in her. My friend calmly opened the door and I told her to let go. Thankfully the wasp just flew away and my daughter did not get stung! How do we teach our children to be cautious without giving them a spirit of fear? If my friend and I freaked out like we wanted to, the situation could have turned into a great fiasco. As adults, we set the atmosphere of our environment. We are the thermostats. Our children will react and respond how they see us behaving. It is important to teach our children that there are consequences to our actions. That the rules are to keep us safe. That we as parents give them rules to protect them just as God gives us rules to protect us! So I needed to teach my daughter that we don’t need to be afraid of wasps, but it’s best to avoid them and definitely don’t touch them or we can get hurt.
Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) 3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Proverbs 4:14-15 (KJV) 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away
Teaching our children to avoid certain things and people is wise. It keeps them safe, but we also need to make sure that we are not creating a spirit of fear to come upon them. We must make sure that we are teaching them in love. That we are showing them God’s perfect love that casts out all fear. That they understand boundaries and consequence. Who ever said parenting was easy?!
1 John 4:18 (KJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
So the only way to create a healthy understanding of rules is to model a behavior of following rules (setting an example), setting the atmosphere with your behavior/attitude, and teaching all things in love. I know it is easier said than done, but with God’s help all things are possible!
Father, we thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. That everything we have questions for, You have an answer. Show us how to search Your word out to find all the answers we seek. Give us understanding in our journey as parents. Show us how to raise our children in your perfect love so they may be bold and courageous yet prudent and wise. Make us thermostats that keep a balanced temperature in our homes. Forgive us for overreacting and behaving badly in front of our children and most of all before you. Teach us how to respond to every circumstance in order to bring You glory. Give us the grace we need to be model parents. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) 3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Proverbs 4:14-15 (KJV) 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away
Teaching our children to avoid certain things and people is wise. It keeps them safe, but we also need to make sure that we are not creating a spirit of fear to come upon them. We must make sure that we are teaching them in love. That we are showing them God’s perfect love that casts out all fear. That they understand boundaries and consequence. Who ever said parenting was easy?!
1 John 4:18 (KJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
So the only way to create a healthy understanding of rules is to model a behavior of following rules (setting an example), setting the atmosphere with your behavior/attitude, and teaching all things in love. I know it is easier said than done, but with God’s help all things are possible!
Father, we thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. That everything we have questions for, You have an answer. Show us how to search Your word out to find all the answers we seek. Give us understanding in our journey as parents. Show us how to raise our children in your perfect love so they may be bold and courageous yet prudent and wise. Make us thermostats that keep a balanced temperature in our homes. Forgive us for overreacting and behaving badly in front of our children and most of all before you. Teach us how to respond to every circumstance in order to bring You glory. Give us the grace we need to be model parents. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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