Raising Kids With Godly Character
Parenting can be hard, But God wants us to steward the time we have while our kids are young and invite Him to be a part of the process.
By Sarah Chittenden
Just the other day, I was sitting watching my 3-year-old son interact with other kids at the park. I try so hard to encourage good manners and kind behavior and yet most of the time, it feels like a losing battle. In that moment, however, I saw a glimpse of my hard work pay off. Without even being asked, he was sharing his toys with others, saying “please” and “thank you” and being so sweet and kind to others. It’s like the thousands of times I’ve reminded him to do these things were all leading up to that moment…and then it just happened.
As I sat there watching proudly, it really made me think: “What have I been teaching him and why does it matter? Is the hard work really worth it?” But God gently reminded me that it does matter. The things my son learns and observes now will quickly become who he is in the future. So, what are some practical things we can do to instill godly character in our kids?
First, we must invite God into our parenting. As silly as it seems, parenting is exhausting and we can’t do it in our own strength. As much as God wants us to depend on Him for all the other parts of our life, surely He wants to be a part of our parenting, too! I’m pretty sure there’s a point every single day where I feel like giving up but when I pause in those moments, I’m reminded - did I even think to ask God for help? It’s pretty convicting. Before you even think about teaching your kids to have godly character, invite God to be part of what you’re doing! He loves your child even more than you do, so don’t you think He wants to help in this process?
Next, be consistent. As exhausting as it feels in the moment, repetition is a powerful tool for shaping our kids’ behavior. Start by determining what character traits you want to see in your child and determine how you can practice those on a regular basis. We can’t just expect our kids to act a certain way without teaching them…it’s hard work and takes thousands of reminders and opportunities to fail before it actually starts to become a part of who they are. But don’t give up! You might not see the fruit of your hard work at the moment, but one day, you’ll see it click and it will all be worth it.
Last, set the example. If we’re not practicing what we’re teaching, why should we expect our kids to act any different? Be mindful of your own actions and interactions with others. Kids are always watching and one of the biggest ways they learn is by observing. Do you need to be a better example of godly character in the way you respond to frustrating situations? What about the way you’re talking to your spouse? One of the most humbling things is when I hear my son repeat something he heard me yell at my husband when I didn’t even know he was around…kids are always watching and learning. We can’t shelter our kids from everything, but we can control the example we set for them.
Parenting is hard. Trusting God with our child’s future is hard. But God wants us to steward the time we have while our kids are young and invite Him to be a part of the process.
How can you practice these things more often to help instill godly character in your kids?
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