As the new school year approaches, I’ve heard more and more “rejoicing” by mothers declaring “just X number of days and the kids will be out of the house”. And while I’m sure there are many, many moms who lament this ending of precious time with their children, there seems to be a disturbing number who do not. I have no doubt these moms LOVE their children; I just don’t think they enjoy them.
Add to that the lack of “generational vision” of raising up godly children, a mammoth-sized feminism force telling them they should pursue their own interests no matter what, no encouragement from older women to be keepers at home, and no cultivated taste for homemaking, and it’s no wonder so many women have fled to the corporate world!
Well, we ladies have a lot of work to do fulfilling our duty as the “older women”….but I find it downright heartbreaking that we have cultivated a whole generation of parents who don’t even enjoy their own children, to the degree they are glad for them to spend a large portion of the day somewhere else.
One of the reasons for not enjoying one’s children is the failure to teach them simple obedience and respect. I’ve seen children who haven’t been taught respect for their parents–I wouldn’t want to spend the day with them either. Raising obedient children is almost a lost art…and yet, it is actually quite simple! Well, the concept is simple. The tough part is making the commitment to spend the time and energy required to carry out these “simple” principles.
Oh that parents would understand who they are, what they have in their children, the vastly important work God has given them, and the privilege to carry out that work!
But as the value of children decreases, the value of the parent’s role also decreases. Obedience is only a thing hoped for, not a thing claimed by authority. And then all the parents gather together, shrug shoulders, compare notes, and console themselves by the fallen standards all around them. “Kids will be kids”, they say.
But the Lord has a different message…it is not outdated. How do you think Scripture can so boldly proclaim, “Children are a heritage of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is His REWARD. Blessed is the man whose quiver is FULL of them.”?
Does the average parent believe this? Does he equate a house full of children with “reward, happiness and blessing”? If not, he’s doing something wrong! I’m not talking about perfect children–they’re still sinners. I’m talking about children who understand authority and respond to the love and security they feel when parents establish healthy authority in the home.
The children described in this verse are children whose parents have understood the mandate…
“Train up a child in the way he should go…”
“Raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…”
“Discipline your son while there is time…”
“A child left to himself brings his mother shame…”
If we don’t enjoy our children, is it our fault or theirs?
Children are indeed a joy (among the hard work) when we embrace the whole counsel of Scripture and train them (all day, every day) in the nurture and admonition of Him that gave us these good gifts!
Getting Your Children to Obey is an ebook full of encouragement and practical advice to help you begin enjoying your children! (Raising Homemaker readers can take $1 off at checkout when they enter the discount code: “children”!)
