I love my kids. I love them a lot. But, parenting, not so much. More often than not, I feel like a screw up, blaming myself and my methods when undesirable behaviours occur.
I have parenting books and have tried the so called 'magic' aproach but still come up short. I am really not complaining, just making an observation. I praise my kids, I encourage them, I am in tune with them and I am patient for so long before I crack and start giving them the gears.
All that to say, I have been reading in Genesis this week, particularly the creation story and the fall of man. After they sinned, I picked up on the greatest parenting approach/strategy EVER. Of course it came from God. By his grace, love and mercy he clothed them to hide their shame but at the same time, his justice cast them out of the garden and gave them cosequences to deal with.
God followed through. There were no empty threats with him and no bribing. He stands by his word.
The greatest model of parenting available.
Love your kids. Show grace when they mess up. Follow through with justice (consequences for poor choices and blatant disobedience).
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
We were talking about why God casted Adam and Eve out of the garden in my religion class last semester. We learned that he cast them out as a sign of mercy, because if they lived in the garden forever (since they would never die), they would live in the presence of sin forever. By casting them out, it meant that they would eventually die, meaning that they could go to Heaven, and once again live without sin.
That's prob the hardest thing for me...follow through.
you can read as many books as you want, but you really have to figure out for yourself what is best for you and your kids, it's really hard. it's so much easier to just give in, so you have to do your best not to take the easy road.
You're right. It is all laid out, even to the part of helping your kids understand the reasons for the punishment. God asked Adam "Where are you? Why are you hiding from me? How did you know you were naked? Did I not tell you to leave that tree alone? Amazing, isn't it? All the advice we need for everything-and in ONE book!
Well said. Thanks for the reminder!
Post a Comment