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What A Child Craves From Parents, But Does Not Know To Ask
Raising children in the instructions of righteousness in a world of independency and selfishness is no easy task. Every parent should accept the challenge. We accepted the responsibility for having them, so why not in raising them godly and decently? Sometimes parenting has difficulty in discerning what a chld 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. It does not have to be sports or academics. Praise them for spiritual improvement. If that matters most to you as a parent, praise it. Do not let your words be absent of encouragement to do godlly 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, all children crave the time parents spend with them. Every moment is important. It is an opportunity when love is expressed by talking, smiling, watching, or listening. When parents spend time with children, be aware an example is being 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).
