Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
--Psalm 127:3
Do your children know that you love them unconditionally? Do they believe that no matter what they face, no matter how they fail, you love them without question?
As parents, you and I have to look into our children’s eyes and tell them that, yes, there are rules and standards in the home, but nothing they do can stop you from loving them. Your children must know that you love them absolutely and unconditionally.
Why? Because that’s how much God loves us. He loves us not based on our performance or appearance. By His grace He accepts us as we are… warts and all. And when you love your child as God loves you, it will impact your child for life.
You and I need to tell our children we love them, but we also have to show them!
How do you show love? First, with acceptance. A child needs at least one place on earth where he or she is accepted. Now, I’m not suggesting you lower your morals or your values.
But if your son or daughter gets into trouble, are you going to love them through it? Can your child come to you and share their hurt, brokenness, and sin and find forgiveness, love, and acceptance?
Love is not only expressed in acceptance, but also in affection. Your home needs to be filled with love and affection. And one of the best ways you can show your child acceptance and affection is through your time.
You also show love through affirmation. Are you constantly finding fault in your child? Or do you find things to be proud about? Learn to encourage your child by finding something good that they are doing and telling them about it.
Keep this in mind:
- If you express your love by acceptance, it will produce significance in your child’s life.
- If you express your life by affection, it will produce security in a child’s life.
- And if you give your child love by affirmation, it will produce self-esteem in your child’s life.
No matter how old your children are, Tell them you love them today!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”
Judges 2:8–10
The tendency of our human thinking is to assume that things will continue as they have been, and that the things which are precious to us will be held and treasured in the future by those who come after us.
This is a dangerous assumption. Even the Israelites, to whom the Old Testament was entrusted, went through a period of backsliding when the sacred words of God were forgotten. It was not until the Temple was being renovated under King Joash that the law was found. “And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:15).
The things that we love and believe must be intentionally passed on to others. If we assume that process will happen without active involvement, we are going to reap a horrible harvest. There must be a careful and diligent effort if our faith is to be passed on. It doesn’t just happen. Wayne Calloway, who for a time was Chairman of Pepsi said, “Most of the companies that are in life-or-death battles got into that kind of trouble because they didn’t pay enough attention to developing their leaders.” The next generation, both in our churches and in our families, will only hold to what we teach them is worth remembering. The rest will be forgotten and lost.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If you do not take time today to invest in the future, you may miss a golden opportunity that will never return.
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment