Don't be afraid to train your children


The scriptures tell us to train up our child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) But how many of us are afraid or unwilling to train our children? We are afraid that we will lose our children's affections if we restrain them- we are afraid to be mothers!

Some of us don't train our children because we are too lazy- it is always easier to just let them go- it takes too much effort to harness them and direct them in the right direction. Some of us do a half-hearted training of our children- because they bug us, we make them toe the line! I suppose that is better than no training at all.

What are the consequences of us not training our children? At the very most rebellious young adults who have no respect for authority- yours or anyone else's. At the very least, young adults who cannot restrain themselves or their moods and who have no respect for property or other people's feelings. Definitely on both counts, we will have bred unhappy young adults.

A lot of mothers are so afraid of harming their children's psyche that they become the child's servant eventually, doting on them and spoiling them until they are insufferable to bear. Mothers, you cannot be your child's best buddy or friend. You have to train your child well and be a mother who is not afraid to enforce her God-given authority as Mother. Your children will respect you for it- they certainly won't respect you for trying to be their friend.

If we don't train our children well we are asking for rottenness to come into their character. A mother who trains and disciplines her children in a loving way will never lose her children's respect or love. Even from early childhood we intuitively know that Mother is our teacher and protector. We may not verbalise it as children but we all know we need a Mother's input in our formative years. However we train our children we can be assured that the results will reach into eternity.

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

'Train up our child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

5 comments:

  1. I was so lucky to have a private conversation with Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies when my child was about 1 yr old, and she mentioned that the most important time to train strictly was at a young age. I asked questions and learned from others HOW, but I'm so glad I took the time to learn because we've witnessed the fruit of early training for the past 15 years. No terrible twos, and no terrible teens!

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    1. I also have spoken by phone with Nancy. She helped me through some issues with my then teenagers. I supported her ministry when she was living in Queensland. I deliver Above Rubies magazines to homes and churches. She's very knowledgeable in the things of the LORD.

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    2. I wrote about how I found her and it will be in the next magazine in the US, but I don't think it will be in yours, as I believe each country features their own people, right?

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  2. http://www.thriveononeincome.com/contented-little-babies/. The first part of this story has some of what will be in the article if you are interested.

    I love that you were able to speak to her by phone! Even she had trouble with her adopted children. I know one of the girls is married now and doing well, though!

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    1. yes, some of them were a trial. It's good that one of the girls is doing well now.

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Thank you for visiting with me today. I love to hear from you. I may not always be able to reply right away, but I will respond to every comment you leave. Blessings and comfort, Glenys