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What a Child Craves From Parents, but Does Not Know to Ask
What a Child Craves From Parents, but Does Not Know to Ask
Raising children in the instructions of righteousness in a world of independence and selfishness is no easy task. Every parent should accept the challenge. We accepted the responsibility for having them. Why not in raising them godly and decently. The difficulty in parenting is in discerning what a child wants from what a child needs. With prayer and attention to God’s instructions and biblical examples, parents can understand what is best in raising children.
What a child craves is a firm guide on right and wrong. Jesus said the will of the Father was His meat on earth (John 4:34). Paul was persuaded only by the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:4,5). Where are your children getting their information about right and wrong? Are we allowing our children to be guided by the current cultural standard or the living, active Word from the Creator of mankind? Our children crave a standard of guidance but do not know how to ask. They do not know for what to ask. Do not be guilty of allowing them to grow up believing “whatever feels good, do it”!
The president of Gateways to Better Education, Eric Buehrer, conducted a study of children, and in presenting his findings in an article, he asked his readers, “How would you like for me to give one of the best gifts in the world to your children? A gift that lasts a lifetime, never breaks, never gets old, and costs nothing; it is the gift of encouragement”. Mr. Buehrer stated a professor of educational psychology conducted a survey of students which shows more than money, candy, video games, computer, or television, students desire praise for completing schoolwork correctly (59%). Praise is a matter of finding what your child does well and expressing your approval. What then is most important for a parent to praise, sports or spirituality? Academics or moral character?
Let your words to your child be encouragement to have spiritual attitudes and do godly acts. This sounds much like Proverbs 22:6. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it”; and Hebrews 10:24, as Christians are admonished to “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works”.
Your time, love, and example are what make for a great childhood. From a babe to a young adult, every child craves the time a parent spends with them. Every moment is important. When a parent spends time with their children, be the example of godliness imprinted upon their heart. Children will live more by what they see than what they hear.
Every parent should remember the words of Paul to Timothy as we ‘raise our own’. “Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save thyself and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16).
