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Instruct ~ What Will Your Children Do?
Give your children clear instructions about what to do as you come alongside them for a time, showing them how to do the task, honoring your children as you instruct. For example, if you’re cleaning a bathroom and you want your child to clean the sink as you do the other tasks, show the child where the cleaner is kept and how you want the sink cleaned. Pretty much common sense! Keep the conversation upbeat as you instruct and come alongside the child. After the instruction, you might add, You will be surprised at how much children will contribute to the family’s routines if they are validated and loved! I taught my young son how to make his bed, and there have been days where he has made my bed, just to “do a little extra.”
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Model Faithfulness ~ What Do You Want Your Children To Be?
As you bring your children alongside you in daily routines or as you come alongside them in their routines, faithfulness—a fruit of the Spirit—will be developed in both your children’s lives and your own. When you carry out your own home responsibilities, model the things you want your children to be—faithful to do the task at the prescribed time, cheerful while you do it, and thorough to completion. As you model these outward behaviors, which are a reflection of what God is doing in your heart, your children will model you. will be magnified a hundredfold as your children relate to you and others. Throughout your routines, remind your children (as God is reminding you) that being faithful in that which is least prepares them for being faithful in much. The words that come from your mouth to your children will often be the very words God is speaking to your own heart. You will be parenting your children as your Father-God parents you. The seemingly mundane in our lives (all our lives, including mom's and dad's) prepares us in so many ways—faithfulness, diligence, patience, stewardship, doing a thorough job—with the character we will need to live in service to God and our fellow man. Routines are areas in our children's lives where we can monitor their character growth as we monitor our own. Also remind your children that there is a consequence for willful disobedience. Return to the Table of Contents
Extend Grace ~ What Will You, Mom, Do and BE?
When conflicts arise—and they will!—how will you respond, Mom? I’d encourage you to examine right now what you do when there is conflict.
Dealing with conflict in your relationships will develop your character! Embrace these opportunities with prayer, zeal, and hopeful anticipation as you water the seeds you have planted. Return to the Table of Contents
Administer Consequences for Disobedience
This is a prayerful time of discerning the heart of your child. Stay close to the Lord to hear from Him if, indeed, your child is willfully disobeying or just being a child who needs time to process the training or perhaps needs more careful instruction as you come alongside him.
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Validate Your Children’s Growth
As we watch our children grow in Godly character, it is such a precious time for us moms to bless our children. As we bless our children and validate their growth in Godly character, we get a glimpse into the heart of God.
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Lord, shape us moms into the image of Christ so we can model Your Love and Life before our children because Your Love and Life are alive in us. and ultimately draw their precious hearts to You— their Head/Source for real Life.
love from a pure heart and of good conscience and a sincere faith. ~I Timothy 1:5
Other articles in this Discipling Reasoning Children series:
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