|
Sep. 17, 2009
God-Led Child Training: Wise vs. Simple
Exciting times in this house. Not only do we have a precious newborn, a willful toddler (whew-what a blessed handful!), a kindergartener, and a sixth grade girl-becoming-woman, but I also have my oldest son who is finishing the last scraps of his high school work and starting full time with CollegePlus in January. I am preparing to "let him go." He is becoming his own man.
This has taken a lot of prayer on my part. I have prayed every step of the way the past eight years, since I truly began following Christ. But, the question is now, have I done my part? Have I trained him up in the way he should go? Will he depart from the ways I have trained him? Is he prepared to hold his own in the world? Is he discerning? Rooted and grounded in truth? Does he have self-control or is temptation going to overcome him?
I'm sure many of you have had some of the same questions. Just HOW am I supposed to prepare this young man to be his own man? How much freedom do I give him? How much do I protect and shelter? How do I test his readiness?
Take eating habits, for example. When training my children, I didn't just tell them to eat what I gave them, or else. I taught them and trained them in Biblical principles regarding gluttony and healthy eating. I taught, explained, and reasoned, from the Word, about their health and all things related, and why we need to make wise choices. I taught them why it is good to eat some things and not others. I taught them the principle of not offending others regarding food. I explained, and trained, and taught. Now my children make wise choices because of their training and their knowledge.
We have trained him in the importance of keeping his brain clean. I believe he understands why he should avoid polluting images. He is discerning and you can see him make the choice to avert his eyes during a bad commercial, or during a romantic scene in an otherwise decent movie. I've seen him make the choice to completely leave if he must to avoid a bad situation--TV, movie, or internet foolishness-- at someone else's house. I've explained to him from scriptures the importance of purity of mind and body, and how God commands us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely. Will he be able to stand?
I began wondering if I taught him enough about what types of sin are out there in the world. Does he need to understand and be familiar with sin so that he can be discerning--recognize evil for evil? I did not want my son to be ignorant and fooled and thus be drawn in or deceived, or tempted because he was ignorant, or curious, for that matter. What do you teach? How much do you expose him to? How much do you describe, explain, or educate when it comes to things he might encounter in the world--sinfulness and the horrible consequences: homosexuality, incest, STDs, drug abuse, alcoholism, prostitution... how much should he know? Just watching the news alone could be dangerous! How do I train him?
Schools touch on it all--have you seen secular texts from public schools? Yikes! No wonder kids get polluted! And just to see if I could find a little help or get some ideas, I ordered some "Christian" books dealing with these sensitive matters, and realized they were not the right thing when all I wanted to do was make sure those books were hidden so my children could not find them.
So I prayed. And God gave me this beautiful, wonderful, scripture:
For your obedience reached to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf,
But I would have you truly wise as to good, and simple toward evil.
Romans 16: 19
It is okay for my son to be "simple" (ignorant) when it comes to evil. It is better that he is so. My job is to make him wise to the good. Is this not the answer to my prayer?
I sat down and talked with my son. I told him as he grows, he is going to encounter all types of evil in the world. He is to consult the scriptures about it, and grow wise as to good, and stay simple toward evil--not even learn about it He does not need to learn, understand, or conform. I explained how he is a stranger in this world, and his true home is the kingdom of God, and he is a son of God, and joint heir to the throne of Christ. This world and its evils have nothing to do with him. He does not need to know. God says so.
And tell me this doesn't help me as I am preparing to teach my daughter many of the important things of womanhood. I have been praying so earnestly for God's guidance so that I can help her grow into a godly young woman, holy, set apart, and pure. Praise God! I can't even express my joy! I have kept my Bible opened to that page of scripture for over a week, it has been so sweet to me!
Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful answer to prayer. And thank You for never, ever, failing to guide us as we train these children for Your kingdom.
And if you have stopped by here, dear reader, know that I pray for you, too, as we take this parenting journey together.
May God bless you, help you, and guide you.
-Mrs. E |
| •
Post A Comment! •
Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Sep. 18, 2009 - Untitled Comment
The biggest comfort I've found in watching him grow is truly turning him over to the Lord and remembering that it doesn't rest only on my shoulders. God has his life planned out and in that, I take great comfort.
Have a blessed weekend.