Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk down the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:19
Unfortunately, we don’t get the privilege of “do-overs” for most things in life. Watching how my grown kids are parenting has helped me to see how many things I blew in raising my own kids. Unfortunately, I can’t redo it – but I have been working hard to do a better job with my 12 grandkids.
My wife did a great job in building into the lives of my kids spiritually, and for that, I am very grateful.
I read a great article recently for parents (and grands) in building spiritual truth into the lives of their kids and grands.
Here is what Pastor Regi Campbell shared:
My wife and I constantly maneuvered around who was going to put the kids to be. It was a daily adventure and a grind. We prayed for them, and, after I committed to Christ, we prayed WITH them.
But here’s what I wish I had known. I wish I had known how important it was to bend down over their beds, put my hand on their heart, and ask these three simple questions:
- Has anyone made you mad today? Is anyone mad at you?
- Has anything made you sad today? Can you tell me about it?
- Did anything make you glad today? What can we thank God for tonight?
Imagine the love relationship that would come out of those three questions, coupled with the physical touch of a father to his kid’s heart, patiently asked every possible night of a kid’s life, and followed by a simple prayer to a loving Heavenly Father.
Dad, how you respond to what your kids share will determine the depth, quality, and trust level of your relationship. If you FEEL them rather than FIX them, you’ll get invited back into their world again and again.
Some of you are still in the throes of parenting younger kids. You can start today in asking these three questions or coming up with your own.
Some of you have teens and maybe this will be a little harder, but if you intentionally pray for ways to build into the life of your teen, God will help you.
And some of you, like me, have grandkids. I love taking my kids on golf cart rides as it gives me time to ask them questions, to sing silly songs, and to tell them God loves them, and so do I.
Now some of my grands have cell phones. I am having fun texting them Bible verses every day of their school week and reminding them that I love them.
Be creative. Use every moment as a teaching moment. It will pay rich dividends.
Set Apart for More,
Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick
Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
