Walking Therein

Challenge Your Children -and Yourself

11:19 PM, Thursday, August 10, 2006 .. Posted in Training Hearts and A Heart of Wisdom Education .. 7 comments .. Link

I have been focusing on getting our Unit Studies ready and trying to read HOWTA so I can absorb as much as I can and implement their wonderful, Bible-First Plan.

Challenge Your Children -and Yourself

In all of the mixed-up messages that parents get from the experts, we are sometimes left to feel guilty if we have high expectations of our children. I am not talking about unreasonable expectations. As a matter of fact, I am not really talking about a skill they should have, like reading or being potty-trained. I am talking about building character in your child.

I challenged our 6 year-old daughter today, when she put something away in the garage that she didn't know where it went. When I asked her about it, she said, "Well, where is Daddy's toolbox?". She had put something away by just setting it in the garage, without coming back and asking where it went. I explained that I expect her to put things where they go without having to check up on her. I only give her things I know she is capable of doing, and if she doesn't know how, then I expect her to ask me. I also tried to paint a picture of what our house looks like when everyone just sets things in the area they go in, and they don't complete the task they were given.

I think the first step in Character Training is taking the time to notice these things as parents. We as Moms have a lot of things to do and complete in a day, and if you are like me, you don't check off all you have to do most days. We can become overwhelmed and feel like we are doing all we can to teach our children, and still, we see all we should have done. We also see the bad fruit exposed in their attitudes and character training comes blaring through! Ok, well, it does for me!

This is when I have to say, Lord, he (or she) is so much like me! Lord, please help me to set the example and notice behavior so that I may impart your wisdom to them. This wisdom can only come from God, which means I have to be in His WORD daily, and waiting patiently on Him to impart that wisdom.

The second step in character training is to tell your child what you expect. We can't expect our children to be truthful if we don't tell them we expect the truth and teach them why we believe that with the WORD. The next step that follows is to see it through. Make sure your children complete the challenge. Do they have to be perfect? No. Should we expect what they are capable of? Yes. Will they grow through this? Yes, and so will we. The LORD, who is not finished with us yet, either, will show us many things as we teach and challenge our children to be more like Him.

As a friend and I were sharing earlier this week, she told me of her 8 year-old son who went above and beyond the call of "being the man of the house" while Daddy was away. She was excited to see how he reacted, and also challenged herself to see him as a young man-in-training. She and her husband definitely feel the calling to train Him in a Biblical manner. She knows that he will also set the example for his younger siblings.

I have seen this myself in our oldest son, who is now 9. He is 4th born, with 3 older sisters, and it is strange to have another firstborn, since our oldest girl is 16. I have come to realize the importance of challenging boys in training him. Boys need more of a challenge. They need to be challenged and meet those challenges to prepare them for the family they will someday have. They will have many decisions to make as the husband and father, and facing and meeting challenges will help them take their family to God's throne and live daily for Him.

I learned a long time ago the Scripture that tells us we need to be constantly praying....

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

This means that I can offer up prayer for wisdom any moment of the day.
Believe me, I do - regularly.

I know that does not meant my days - or my children - will be perfect, but it does mean that I have an open line of communication to the One who knows just what I can expect of my children, and how they can meet the challenges for the day. It also gives me hope that I can be the Mom He has created me to be, so they can learn from Him.

Challenge your children! God challenges us as adults to live in a world full of sin. We are challenged to trust in Him and believe His promises in spite of what we see in our own lives and the world around us. We must teach our children to rise to the challenge and not just sit around, waiting for the world to cater to their every whim - or do the tough jobs for them.

I pray God can open my eyes to this everyday, as I teach my children. I pray that I can obtain His Wisdom. I do not want to teach them in my own wisdom, only His.
Encourage, challenge and teach by example.

Enter My Contest here!!

Leave a Comment

Congratulations!

8:33 AM, Friday, August 11, 2006 .. Posted by Bearingfruit
Congratulations for being selected as Blogger of the Week! I look forward to reading all the information on your blog! IT is such an encouragement and also enlightening! Thank you for all the helpful information.

Untitled Comment

9:19 AM, Friday, August 11, 2006 .. Posted by barbieheart
Congratulations, neighbor, on being selected blogger of the week! I am a regular visitor, so I KNOW all the cool stuff here!
Enjoy your week, and I'm envious of your cool gift!
--Barbara

Contest Entry

9:20 AM, Friday, August 11, 2006 .. Posted by Bearingfruit
I love the contest idea! My entry is posted on my website. I love your website and all the great information! Thanks.

Thank you!

10:23 AM, Friday, August 11, 2006 .. Posted by SunnyDays
Thank you for the encouraging words you posted on my blog. They are a blessing to me!

I love your REALness my SSiC (0;

10:56 AM, Friday, August 11, 2006 .. Posted by Canadagirl
Yes its is true to contantly need to raise our eyes to the Moutains and where does our Strength come from ? ( the LORD ! ) . Hearing you put down in words what is in my heart it reminds me and confirms my hearts desires in my HS. It is a encouragement to read what you have expressed my SSiC. Oh how I wish you guys where closer geographically. Congrats on being the Featured Blogger !!!! God Bless.
In Him,

:o)

3:36 PM, Saturday, August 12, 2006 .. Posted by MommylovesRJ
Jacque~

Thank you SO much! Your comment on my blog were exactly the words I needed; I am so glad that G-d chose to use you for the deliverance. You have such a sweet soul that is so very apparent through your entries on your blog, and via comments you leave for others. I am personally thanking the Lord today, for bringing you into my life. Know that should ever the need arise that you are needing uplifting, I will be there holding your hand, just as you've done mine. Thank you so much for being the blessing you are to so many, especially your DH and your wee ones, and most especially in the eyes of our Father. You shall surely receive many crowns of glory at our judgement.

CONGRATULATIONS!

5:25 PM, Saturday, August 12, 2006 .. Posted by Jocelyndixon
WHOOOHHOOOO!!
It is so neat to see your pic on the Home Page!!! I'm glad they picked you!!

I hope they put my next nominee next week (Evil laugh)...

Ok, enough with me...I hope you have a lot of people do you contest and I see have already done so...I hope a couple more stop by mine and do it too!

Love,