BW was picking the brain of one of his seminary friends the other day.  This family is very large by today's standards and very close, generous and loving and the children are walking with the Lord.  So BW asked this father what were his biggest pieces of advice for childrearing.  The father said that a wise family that they had asked the same question to many years ago gave them these recommendations and they have tried to follow them.  I wanted to record them here for the benefit of those who read this, but mostly for myself as I strive to do these things.

1.  Cry out to the Lord constantly for the childrens' salvation and for wisdom for each individual situation that arises.

2.  For every negative comment/discipline make sure that there are 10 positive ones.  I read somewhere a while back(maybe it was on someone's blog!) to keep a tally of positive to negative comments for a few days to check your status in this area(also not a bad idea for your marriage too!).  I have to admit that at the time I didn't do it because I knew full well what it would reveal.  This is something I really plan to work on fervently in the New Year.

3.  Study about the character of God in His patience and longsuffering.  Remind yourself of God's patience with you and have that humility and that kind of patience with your children.  I know that in my life, I am so thankful that God does not unleash his wrath on me every single time I disobey him or I would have been struck by lightning long ago.  He also doesn't refrain from disciplining me, but He is so incredibly patient and longsuffering.  And there are so many times that He blesses me even when I don't deserve it.  He often also uses the natural consequences of my poor choices to discipline me and draw me close to Him again.

So these, in a nutshell, are my going to be my New Year's "Parenting" resoultions.  What are yours?

-J