Ten Commandments of Parenting

This came from a Sunday School take home paper at church.

1. Think before you speak.

2. Listen to what the children have to say.

3. Discipline lovingly and justly with the goal of teaching.

4. Praise your children often.

5. Support your child through the good and bad.

6 Put your child's well-being before your job or anything else that can get
in the way.

7. Be an example worth copying.

8. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

9. Help your child reach their full potential.

10. Point your child to Jesus and pray for him / her often during the day.

This Sunday I will be preaching from Ephesians about family relationships. There is an interesting verse just before the "wives submit to your husbands" part which all of us husbands love to quote. Ephesians 5:21 says to submit to one another out of reverence to the Lord.

Commandment #6 above has sparked in me because lately my children have been making comments like, "I know Dad is helping alot of people but..." But the problem is they want ME, not just an example of someone who is ministering to others.

Submitting to others also means that I realize that one of my family's needs is ME, and I submit to that need by making them a top priority. I am not saying that everything else is thrown completely out. Everything must have its proper order and balance. Family is one of the things God created me for; I should be doing my best for them out of reverence to God.

Bryan