Article Display
Email  |  My Account  |  Donate
As your family grows, you'll find yourself with a full-time job on your hands. Children may be a heritage and reward from the Lord, but they are also work! You have to spend the necessary time to make sure that you have taught them, shared with them, and cared for them.

And you have to spend the time to teach them how to share with and care for each other. You have to teach them spiritual things as well, such as how to minister to God and exercise their own faith.

So you have an awesome responsibility. It's not just "get married and be happy." It takes work at every stage. And every time you introduce a new child to the family, it is totally different, because now you have another personality in the home that you've never had before.

It is very important that you recognize the fact that your children will all have different personalities. You can stymie the call of God on a child's life if you don't understand and take the time to deal with that child's own unique personality.

For instance, I had always wondered where my youngest daughter came from because she was so different from everyone in the family! Then one day I finally realized that she acts just like my sister. Fortunately, my sister is a Christian.

Your children do not all have to act like you or your spouse. Children are imitators. Sometimes they imitate Dad. Sometimes they imitate Mom. Sometimes they choose to imitate someone outside the home.

And sometimes they want to imitate everybody all at once. (Then you really have a mess on your hands. But they'll outgrow that if they're guided properly.)

I believe children should learn from their parents. No one outside the home is responsible for what goes on in your home, so you shouldn't allow others to form your children's opinions. They are supposed to get their opinions, values, and morals from you. And you're supposed to get them from the Bible.

Your children can also learn from you which people are safe to imitate. However, it's your responsibility to find out who their mentors are and to make sure they're following godly role models.

Another thing with children is that you must allow them time to be children. Children go through growing stages, just as we do as adults, so you have to allow them to think.

Talk to your children and ask them questions about different things. Teach them how to think for themselves. And let them talk to you. Listen to them before you "jump all over them" about something.

And make sure you're really hearing what they're saying, because it could be something totally different than what you think you've heard.

Whenever punishment is in order, make it appropriate for their age. Younger children need the discipline of the rod, but you need to use wisdom in correcting older ones.

You have to get them where it hurts, so to speak, such as taking away their privileges. You want them to think about what they did instead of just being mad at you.

Finally, don't let your children stay home from church. Make them attend. That's part of your responsibility to train them up in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6). Yes, there will be a point where they are just going to church because they have to.

But if they keep going, the importance of church attendance and the commitment to make it a priority will "rub off" on them. (Make sure you have them in a good Bible-teaching, Spirit-filled church.)

You can see how building a strong family takes responsibility and discipline on your part—in other words, work! But the rewards are worth the time you invest in your greatest asset in life, your family.

Source: Marriage and Family by Deborah Butler
Excerpt permission granted by Word Of Faith Publishing

Author Biography

Deborah Butler
Web site: Word of Life Brussells
 
Pastor Deborah L. Butler is the first lady of Word of Faith International Christian Centre located in Southfield, Michigan where she serves in ministry with her husband, Bishop Keith A. Butler. Pastor Deborah is a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel. Her encouraging, yet down-to-earth teaching imparts wisdom from the Word of God to all that hear her speak. One of Pastor Butler's many duties is serving as the Director of the Women of Virtue Ministry. Pastor Deborah is often called to travel to other ministries to teach and admonish women to walk in the wisdom of God and to experience peace in every area of their lives.
Read more...

About Us

The online ministry of cfaith has been helping people discover faith, friends and freedom in the Word since 2000. Cfaith provides a unique and comprehensive collection of faith-building resources for the worldwide faith community.

At cfaith, you can strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of the Word of God by digging into the vast collection of teaching articles, streaming audio and video messages, and daily devotionals. No other website offers such a unique and extensive collection of spiritual-growth resources aimed at helping you grow in your knowledge of the Word.

Read More...

 

 

Support Us

Why support cfaith?


(All contributions are 100% tax deductible)


SUPPORT CFAITH WITH ONE CLICK!

For every Internet search you make using
goodsearch, cfaith will receive one penny!

GS Logo 250x38

Contact Us

Business Hours:


Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. CST
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Phone:

(763) 488-7800 or (800) 748-8107

Mailing Address: 

CFAITH.com
9201 75th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 

Login Form

Please ignore the “Secret Key” field; it is not needed to log in to cfaith.

Login Change Article

Spring360x442
You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.