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Nurtuting the Future Leaders of Tomorrow
By Emmanuel Donkor
I recently visited the Natural History Museum in the heart of the city of London as part of a sightseeing weekend. It was a fascinating experience as I was exposed to the various flora and fauna that constituted the earth’s population. A visit to the popular section; the land of the dinosaurs was particularly interesting as it gave me insight into the world of these monstrous animals; animals, that according to scientists, had existed millions of years before, though not yet proven.
At the human biology section, my attention was particularly drawn to a couple and their two children who had also come to enjoy the sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon at the museum. And by every indication, the children were enjoying the experience as much as the parents. As I observed this family, I was shocked, nonetheless, delighted to hear the father explain to his children the processes by which babies were formed in a mother’s womb.
Growing up as a teenager, I cannot recall having such conversations with my parents. Maybe because ‘sensitive’ topics such as sex, were often considered taboo and were avoided altogether.
On the other hand, I was delighted the parents took the opportunity to ‘educate’ their children on such an important topic. What struck me about this particular family was the way in which they interacted with their children in such a loving way. I was even tempted to find out what their secret formula was.
Looking back, I often wonder whether they were Christians. One thing was for sure; there was a standard that was set by this family; one every Christian parent needs to consider when bringing up his or her children.
For Christian parents, God has placed on them the responsibility of “training a child in a way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Like the people of Israel, we are also the chosen people of God. This means whatever we do must conform to His will as written in the Bible.
He has also given parents the role of bringing up their children in line with God’s word so, “the Lord will bring about for them what He had promised them” (Genesis 18:19).
When we consider children as a gift from God, it is only natural for parents to become the channel of love and moral authority to them. But for many parents, the question that often comes to mind is how they can bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. Also, under what circumstances can they teach their children the ways of the Lord?
In a world that is often characterized by consumerism as well as media manipulation, it can be difficult for parents to raise up Godly children. Not forgetting they also have their fair share of problems to deal with, one wonders how they could bring up their children the way God intends for them to be raised?
In the book of Judges, Sampson’s parents asked God to give them grace to raise up their child. It is also important that parents ask the same for their children.
God’s Way – The Right Way
It is very easy for parents, particularly Christian parents to be caught up in the cares of the world. And considering the period in which we live; with much emphasis on media, fashion and self-centeredness, we are reminded once again that the values we place emphasis on and the one which would be the foundation for our children’s growth should be based on God’s Word. It is imperative for parents to place a lot of emphasis on raising their children in a Godly way.
In the book of Deuteronomy, God appeals to the Israelites to ‘implant’ his commands and statutes in their children. This was a guarantee for a better life. The Word of God has been the cornerstone of civilization for many centuries as is still the case today. A life patterned after the principles gleaned from God’s word is one sure way to a better life.
The Sure Way To Do It
We have often heard how difficult it has become to raise children, especially when parents try to raise up Godly children. In a rapidly technologically advanced world, a world in which parents struggle to catch up, children often get ‘sapped’ into it very quickly. And for most of the time, the information and morals portrayed by the media is diametrically opposed to the Word of God.
These days, pre-marital sex, lying, infidelity and greed are gradually replacing the tenets of morality. However, God reminds parents to inculcate into their children good moral values out of reverence for Him. Values such as respect for the elderly, acknowledging God in our day-to-day lives, honouring our parents are fundamental to active Christian living. When parents imbibe these and other fundamental Christian values into their children who are the future leaders of tomorrow, we would be assured of God’s blessings on humanity and the world would become a much better place to live in. Teaching them the ways of God also includes pointing to them and correcting them any time they fall short.
This also means smacking them out of love when the need be. Correction involves the use of ‘the rod of correction’ in training the children for the “rod of correction imparts wisdom but a child left to himself disgraces his mother” (Proverbs 29:15).
Christian parents must also set good examples for their children. This is because as their guardians, they are largely responsible for shaping the world view of their children. Thus, when the parents do not have a healthy world view, the children are most likely to have a distorted world view too.
Parents Need To Create The Right Environment
Children are the primary responsibility of parents and this cannot be over emphasized. Parents shape their children’s actions, attitudes and association. When they are inconsistent in delivering godly instruction and wisdom to their children, they practice ineffective parenting. When they place unreasonable demands by abusing their authority, they practice ineffective parenting.
That is the reason why parents must be seen to be creating the environment where the children become the centre of attraction after God; where the children are loved as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. The children should be able to respect their parents so whatever they are taught is seen as important to their growth. This can be achieved when the parents are first and foremost consecrated to God.
Parents should draw nearer to God as He draws nearer to them and gives them the grace and wisdom to raise their children in His way. When parents create a stable, Godly and loving home, the children would learn to put God first in their day-to-day life. Their future would then be guaranteed to be like the tree that is planted by the banks of the river, bearing fruit in its season (Psalm 1:3).
It is possible to raise up Godly children in the mist of a chaotic world when as parents, we learn to prioritize our lives. When we build a stable home; a Godly home, our children would grow to become God’s ambassadors on earth. i
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