Thursday, August 04, 2005

Raising Pleasant Children

To raise children that are pleasant to be around, there are many things that you must do. Right now, one thing comes to mind.

Do not follow your own selfish desires - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12

Actually, this was the key verse of my daughter's history studies two years ago. As she studied the 19th and 20th centuries in Gileskirk Humanities, she realized that this verse epitomizes modernity. . . the way that you and I see the world. We are the product of modernity whether we realize it or not. As the Christian church follows its own "right" way instead of God's way found in His word, it is exhibiting this same modern mindset. As parents, too often we pass on an attribute of pride to our children when we think we know all the right ways. Our children pick up on this, thinking they know all the right ways as well.

We should strive to teach our children humility instead of hubris. What's hubris? That's your vocabulary assignment for the week. Hegemony & hubris were concepts drilled into us as we studied modernity that year. When we believe we are in complete control with all the right answers, we are a people filled with hubris. However, the Word of God says that He is in control and we can not follow the way of man because it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). Do you find the principles in the Bible to be outdated? Do you wonder how God could accomplished anything before our modern technology and church programs? Then, you are definitely of the modern mindset. Which mindset is your child? Which mindset are you passing on to your children? Be sure you are teaching your children the Biblical mindset and not the modern mindset. Most believers today do not realize they are of the modern society, with that inkling of pride in the back of their mind. I know I have that pride and must strive to get rid of it.

Children who exhibit hubris are not pleasant to be around. I'm sure you have been around arrogant children. They do not have a Biblical perspective....what are you doing to give your children a Biblical mindset and not one of hubris???? What are you doing to root out pride and instill humility? Once you begin training your children in humility, you can be guaranteed that they will be pleasant and other adults will actually enjoy them.

Kerry

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