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We're discussing chapter 4 this week:
After nurturing your child to long for God, the next thing is home discipleship which means “shaping your child's heart to live for God.” This is all about relationships with your children. As the Clarkson's say, “You are inviting your children to walk with you and with Jesus…”
Here are three things, illustrated using the idea of a path, that we as parents should be doing to disciple our children.
- Direction – We show them where the path is. It's about guiding them in the right direction using sympathy, encouragement, love, and instruction.
- Correction – We guide them back onto the path when they stray from it. This is about discipline, not punishment.
- Protection – We keep them safe as they walk the path. This is about teaching our children to seek after the “good and godly” especially in the areas of relationships and the media.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this chapter:
- “Teaching gives knowledge. Training gives skill. Teaching fills the mind. Training shapes the habits.” from H. Clay Trumbull, pg. 62
- “Your job is to help them love God better.” pg. 63
- “Whatever you let into your children's hearts will influence or define who they become.” pg. 69
There is a great acronym at the end of the chapter to help you as you walk with your children on the PATH:
P – pray for your children regularly.
A – Accept your children unconditionally.
T – Teach and train your children diligently.
H – Honor your children purposely.
Being little, my boys are still in the stage where we tell them what to do in many areas of their lives. We have been intentional from the time Jonathan was little to give him choices and guide him in making good choices. When we have to discipline, we often use the language of good and bad choices. You chose to do this, so this is what happens next. You can read here about how we have chosen to handle technology and the media in our home.
How do you give your children direction, correction, and protection?
{Would you like to lead a chapter? There are chapters still available.}
