Children Are All Different - Is There An Instruction Manual??

 

Children are all different. You can have 5 or 6 children and they will each have their own individual personality, their own preferences, their own temperaments. We start out having one child. Just when we think we have this whole parenting thing figured out, along comes another child who is completely different. What worked well with the first one doesn’t work well with the second. Don’t you wish kids came with an instruction manual?

Well, they do. It’s called the B-I-B-L-E. That is our instruction manual for raising children and for life. In it we will find what we need.

You have to look deeper than just verses that talk about raising children, though. There are your standards. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15.  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20.

There are lots of other verses that tell us things that would be helpful in raising children. Here are just a few.

Be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.  Children respond well to kindness. They thrive in an atmosphere of kind words and gentle actions. But children make mistakes. They are, after all, children, still learning about this world we live in. So forgive them quickly. Let them know that you love them, even when their actions are not acceptable. Always try to end each punishment with a kind word, a gentle touch, a small praise for something good they have done.

Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26. Babies are so sweet and cuddly. They giggle and smile and our hearts melt. Then they become toddlers. They discover they have a will of their own and they aren’t afraid to use it! That sweet cuddly baby has become a little terror who wants their own way. They throw fits and they throw things! They can make us angry. It’s ok to be angry, but don’t sin while you are angry. I think the best piece of advice I ever got was, when I was angry with my children, to send them to their room or put them in time out until I could calm down and deal rationally with them. Not only does it give you time to calm down but it gives them time to realize they have done something wrong.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15. Teach your children to do their chores without grumbling. Teach them to not fight with one another, reminding them that they are children of God and he expects certain behavior from them. But make sure you aren’t doing the grumbling or disputing, either. What you do is more of a lesson to your children than what you say.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. Philippians 4:4-5. Show your children how to rejoice always, even in the bad times. Show them that, even when things are not going their way, or something bad has happened, they still have lots to be thankful for. Show them what a gentle spirit is by your example in teaching them. It’s kind of amazing how much more closely children listen when you speak softly.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20. Teach your children how to be good listeners, teach them to not interrupt and show them how to consider their words carefully before speaking. This is an attribute that we could all use some practice with, so help your children learn this when they are young.

I guess what I am trying to point out is that the Bible is full of teachings that we need to be sharing with our children. Even the smallest toddlers can learn about God and learn to love God with all their hearts. Teach them by word and teach them by example. I don’t think there is much in this world that is more heartbreaking than to watch someone you love (and we all love our children dearly) walk away from God, fall into sin and be lost. Heaven is such a wonderful place. Don’t you want all your children to be there with you? Use the instruction manual to help assure your children grow up to love God.