Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to help our children avoid making the same mistakes we made? I think there are guides for accomplishing this in the Law given to Moses and in following Jesus’ example.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV).
The scripture says I need to keep these words, of loving God with all I am, in my heart. He says I must teach them diligently to my children. Then he tells me how to do it: Talking about loving him when I’m sitting, walking, lying down, rising; and keeping his words before me always.
This is how Jesus taught his followers.
I mentioned in an earlier post, Parenting Tip #3, that we can copy Jesus’ example in his interactions with his disciples. He was God’s perfect Son, yet he humbled himself and walked, ate, slept, admonished, fed, taught and encouraged them day by day.
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11 ESV).
I need to bring my children to Jesus daily, sitting with them, walking with them, engaging them in discussions they’re curious about – and otherwise teaching them in all ways possible of the importance of loving God with all they have. So they can know him and follow him, and grow beyond my human limitations and my mistakes.
by Kathy Sheldon Davis
kathysheldondavis.com 