Parenting 101

If ever we received parenting advice that was good for us – it is the example and wisdom of our Heavenly Father. When we speak to our children – we expect them to listen to us – instead of continuing to play their video games. When God speaks to us – He expects us to listen to Him. God’s words are different than ours because His words have divine power and when HE SPEAKS – things happen. I mean….serious words that made something out of nothing in creation. And His words are just as life-giving and filled with promise and hope as they were in the beginning.

And, following His lead, shouldn’t OUR words be life-giving and promise-and-hope-filled to our children as well? This is an excerpt from the text I sent to my children yesterday: “Good morning to my sweethearts. Praying this is a blessed day for my family with God’s wisdom, His strength, His grace, and His tender loving care in our lives. He’s such a good parent to us. He provides all the ways to receive His blessings and we do our best to do those ways. And He rewards us for it. I think of the love the two of you have for your children and how they are being blessed as they follow your ways and guidance. And the more you display your love for God and His ways, the more they want to follow God also. They’re getting rock solid foundation as you lead, and they follow.”

Remember challenging our parents with our words? We might have said “Mom, can I go over to my friend’s house?” Mom responds: “No.” You: “But why not?” Mom: “Because I said so.” “Because I said so” wasn’t enough for us. We needed reasons why not. Mom might have better said: “BECAUSE, you haven’t finished your homework and you didn’t clean your room.” Aha! Those were words that made sense and brought clarity to our understanding.
And, so it is with God. He could have easily spoken: “Obey me because I said so…” But He gave us clear “because” and “if you” responses. My mom would go on to say “You can go to your friend’s house, IF YOU finish your homework and clean your room.” God presents us with His promises. IF YOU do this, you will be blessed. If we are not blessed, it is BECAUSE we disobeyed and now we suffer the consequences. For example:

“IF YOU are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)
“IF YOU obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.” Deuteronomy 28:3-4
“IF YOU do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” Deuteronomy 28:15-16

I don’t want to give the impression that I am the epitome of being a good parent and have the right to give parenting advice. But I do know Who a good, good Father, our Heavenly Father, is and how I have been blessed to be His girl. I’m Daddy’s girl and I want to please Him. I know I please Him when I honor Him, obey Him, and talk about Him. I hope, today, that you see what I am saying objectively. You are no less of a Daddy’s girl or Daddy’s boy than I am. Our responsibilities as Father God’s sons and daughters are simple. They are the same responsibilities that even Jesus, God’s Son, had. He wanted to do the will of His Father and so should we – especially when it comes to being an example of God’s love, His mercy and grace as we parent our own children. And isn’t that the true description of Parenting 101 for us?