TO TEACH WHAT IS GOOD
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-4
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Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Practical Application
What does it look like to practically train our children in Character?
* First, make a plan. In your daily routine allow time during those periods of “non-conflict” to work on your children’s character.
* Choose one virtue at a time to work on. Using Scripture, make a craft or read stories to teach and reinforce God’s thoughts on that particular virtue. This will help reinforce the virtue in the mind and heart of your children.
* Be intentional about observing your children throughout the day, looking for those times they are demonstrating the virtue. Acknowledge the right action or attitude with words of praise and encouragement.
Putting It Into Action – Pleasing God Activity
As our children are learning what things please God, consider this fun and simple activity that will help build memories and provide lasting benefits they can hold onto for life. Take a few moments at breakfast and ask your children to name things they can do that would please God. While affirming their good ideas, encourage each family member to commit to doing those things that please God throughout the day. Then before bedtime, have the children share what either they did or saw their siblings do, that was pleasing to God. Your children’s hearts will be full of joy as they see the blessing of intentionally making right choices and doing those things that please God. Together, pray a prayer of thanksgiving that God gives us the ability to please Him everyday!
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Most Commonly Asked Questions of Contact Moms
Q: My baby has just learned to roll over during his naptime and is not able to get back into a comfortable position, therefore he cries. Is there anything I can do to help him?
A: Most babies between four to six months of age will begin to roll over. He may have been sleeping on his back, side, or stomach for all this time, but now flips over and begins to cry because he’s no longer in his usual, comfortable position for sleep. Initially you may go in and turn him back over so that he can go back to sleep. However, at some point you will need to decide between continually going in to intervene by rolling him back over and when will you allow him to work it out himself? Another option is to work with your son during wake time helping him to develop and learn the skill of rolling over from back to tummy and tummy to back. Rest assured, he will, as all babies do, learn to sleep in all positions. It’s just tough on a mom’s emotions when she sees her baby in need, so once again, we need to make sure to ‘think before reacting’, not allowing our emotions to rule. And to offer a little ‘pre-activity’ warning regarding the next developmental challenge and that is when your little one learns to stand up in his crib and can’t figure out how to get back down. You can follow the same procedure as when he rolled over, going in to help him back down, but then will need to allow him to work it out on his own. Most pre-toddlers do not fall asleep standing up holding on to the crib bars, they eventually let go. Here again, make learning this skill a ‘wake-time activity’, either in the crib showing him how to slide his hands down the slats to a sitting position, or using a solid chair or coffee table, help him learn how to sit down once he’s pulled himself up. It’s all part of his normal growth and development. [see Babyhood Transitions pg. 85; Babywise 2 pg. 104/105.
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Good: valuable or virtuous; conformable to the moral law.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Phil. 4:8
How do we exemplify good to those in our sphere of influence?
Don’t compare your goodness with that of other men; compare it with the goodness of the Man of Galilee. ~ Megiddo Message
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Character Training
Training children in character comes through training their hearts. Sheryl Nickels, a mom with a wide age-span of both biological and adopted children is the speaker for this presentation. Sheryl reminds all moms that they set the tone in their homes and are called to apply biblical principles in their own lives and in the lives of their children. She also shares ways that moms can instill godly truths in their children. To purchase click here.
Some time ago, sensing the need to take better care of myself, I began an exercise program. After purchasing some weights and an exercise ball I began faithfully doing strength training. Within a few weeks, the results of my efforts were visible, my muscles were firmer and my body was more toned. Feeling pretty good about my success, I shared what I was doing with my friend, who is also a personal trainer. She asked, “What kind of aerobic exercise are you doing?” My response, “I’m not doing any.” She then took the time to explain that the heart was the most important muscle in one’s body and if my heart wasn’t in good shape, then it didn’t really matter how fit my other muscles were. So, I started an aerobic program. This was much harder. I sweated and strained and the only one who could tell my heart was in better shape was my doctor. What is true in exercise is true in our spiritual lives as well. We can flex our spiritual muscles and those around us may be impressed as we teach our children and serve in our community. But God sees our hearts and He knows our motivation. As the Great Physician, He can see what is going on inside us. Let’s make sure that as we do good to those around us, our heart is pleasing to God as well.
1 Timothy 4:7b-8…train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
THOUGHTS FROM THE BOARD
As intentional as we may be in our parenting there will be some character traits that our children will not quite grasp for many years. So often as moms we think we are the agent of their growth, seeing their character faults and using whatever means to correct these faults. Sadly Moms, this attitude is a recipe for broken relationships. Reflecting on my salvation experience has helped me gain a better perspective about my parenting. I grew up in a family who “knows not the Lord”; there was not one person for generations manifesting a living dynamic relationship with Jesus. However, shortly after coming to faith, a girl in the youth group I was attending came up to me and told me about her mom. She shared that her mom met my mom several years earlier and began praying for her salvation and the salvation of her family. Amazing! I was the fruit of someone’s faithful prayers! Through prayer, God opened my eyes and placed a longing in my heart for HIM. It is this same God at work in our hearts to this very moment, and He is more than capable of working in our children’s hearts. As intentional as we are and need to be, in molding, shaping, teaching and training, we need to be just as intentional about releasing, praying and building bridges of encouraging friendship; letting God be God in the lives of our children. As my children have grown older, I find myself doing a lot of what I call “sitting on my hands.” Not acting, not telling, simply watching and praying so that when the moment comes, and if they ASK, I may offer my two-cents, and believe me this takes greater trust, and greater faith than anything I have experienced yet.
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