PARENTING GOALS Proverbs 23:15–16 Think about the influence parents have on their children. I decided to do a little research with my own family. I sat everybody down around the dining room table and said, “I want you all to tell me the one thing you are going to remember that we always say as a family and that you are going to take away with you.” We have some phrases that we often repeat, like “Be a leader for good, be a leader for God.” I also say this: “It is not how you react when you do not get anything but how you react when you do not get everything.” The idea is that they are never not going to get anything. However, there will be times that they do not get everything, and their reaction when that happens evidences their character. I also say, “Your heavenly Father loves you, and so do I.” So I asked my kids which saying they are going to remember most when they leave the house. The reply was, “Do not use all the hot water.” That was what they said! I think that is a good one. Also, “Close the door,” “Shut the refrigerator,” things like that. I know they will remember something else as well. There are many things we are trying to get across. So we are going to look at parenting, and as we do, we are going to throw off parenting guilt. We are going to throw off parenting stress. We are going to hear what the Lord wants to tell us about how He wants to move in our families and how He wants to shape our lives. Let me ask you a question: What do you think our goal is as parents? King Solomon teaches us that our parenting goal is character, not accomplishment. It is not about what our kids do; it is about who they are. Our relationship with Christ is the same. It is not about what we do for God; it is about who we are with God and our relationship with Him. So we parent for character, not accomplishment. It is not about how many home runs they hit; it is not about how many A’s they get. It is not about how they are first chair or second chair in the band. It is not about how pretty or popular they are. The most important thing is who they are. What is more important to you? Character or accomplishment? Why?
JULY 30