RAISING GODLY KIDS

As I {Alayna} watched the youth choir at my church on Mother's Day, I noticed a few kids who couldn't be more than 14 or 15 years old and they brought tears to my eyes. It was obvious that they loved Jesus. And it made me cry, because there is nothing more that I want than for my children to know and love Jesus passionately at a young age. 

I remember what I was like at 14 or 15: a moody, snotty, disobedient, lying teenager. I didn't listen to my parents and church was just a bunch of rules. I knew about God, but I certainly didn't love him or live for him. I never want my children to be like me at that age. I want them to choose a different path, and I will have to lead and encourage them to choose differently.

Watching one beautiful, young teenager, worshiping Jesus without a care as to how she appeared to the whole church, without a thought of herself, convicted me about the things that I need to do to raise a child like that. One who loves Jesus above what others think, above her friends, & above herself... 

So what do I need to do to have a child like that? I believe it's pretty simple. Live it. Be in the word, talk about God, teach your children about God, and discipline them using God's word as my guide.

I know I will fail as a mom. I know I will yell. I know I will have angry, mommy moments. I know I will screw up. I know above all things, to succeed in motherhood, I need to lean on God. I need His grace. I need His guidance. I need God. I need to be in God's word. So how's my quiet time? Oooooh, ouch, yeah not as often or as lengthy as I wish it was. How's yours? 

Talk about what God has done in your life. Do you reflect on how God has moved and led you in your own life, even before you knew Him? Reflect and share your stories with your kids. I don't know about your kids, but mine love stories! Share stories of how you met Jesus, how God led you in different areas of life, and how He speaks to you now. Your kids will benefit by seeing how God works in your life. 

Teach them about God using Bible stories in addition to stories from your own life. Focus on the attributes of God, His love, justice, sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, and more! Make it simple and integrate it into all aspects of life: Nature, our bodies, their relationships with you, siblings, and friends. Seek to seize the teachable moment and point them back to God! 

And in discipline. God disciplines us, and we should likewise discipline our own children like the ultimate loving parent does. God's word has guidance, stories, and verses for pretty much any discipline issue you come up against. Lying, lack of kindness, anger, hitting, and almost any issue from toddler-hood to teenager-dom, it's in there. For a good guide, click HERE to see the book Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel for help. 

We will never be perfect mommas. So give up the illusion now. With God's help, self discipline, and a little bit of therapy, we can mold and guide our babies to become like the beautiful young woman I saw singing this last Sunday; with a radiant countenance, a heart filled with love for God, and abandoned in worship and love for her Creator and Savior.

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