How do I help my children to stay “counter-cultural”?
Or the variation of that: How do I help my adult children in a culture hostile to a Biblical Worldview?
We live in exciting AND challenging times, my friends. God LOVES coming alongside Moms that want to teach and model for their children how to navigate this “It’s all about ME” world. Jesus was, is and always will be power under control. Humble and moral and other-centered. He is our role model.
What life was like when I was a child
My childhood. Wow! So different from today! We read the Bible and said the Lord’s Prayer in school every day during the opening exercises. We also said the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
And most people attended church OR were at the very least GOD-FEARING. We knew our nation’s history and we memorized the Preamble to the Constitution. The adults in my childhood believed in God and they knew the 10 commandments and they knew there were consequences from not living out a moral life…even if they didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.
The change has not been an overnight thing
It has happened little by little. So subtly that we didn’t really see it coming! I know I didn’t even begin to really see it coming until I was in my late 20’s.
My heart goes out to you Moms (and Dads) raising children in a culture with progressive hostility toward a Biblical Worldview. Prayer and focused meditative time in the Word is our foundation. It is what keeps us from toppling over and/or giving up because of overwhelm.
Parents of young children
You must be even more vigilant and more diligent than ever before. Be alert and aware of the influences in your child’s life. ALL influences. Books, People, and things that plug in or need to be re-charged!
Homeschooling is one of the ways. One big practical benefit is that it gives you more hours in the day to instruct and model the lessons the Bible has to teach us. To bring God into all your discussions. Because He is there…in all your discussions and activities even if you don’t remember He is. 🙂 BE that role model. BE that person that you want your children to BECOME.
And if God directs you in other than homeschooling your children, then don’t apologize for that. But be aware that it means that you will then have fewer hours in the day to be that influencer for good and godliness. So, you will have to be VERY very intentional and diligent when your children are with you. AND you will have to be an especially good listener…to help you to discern areas of struggle and challenge your child is having trying to remain moral and godly.
Find a mentor
Be intentional to find a mentor further down the road than you are in parenting. To help you stay on course. To remind you of your goals. To raise a child of good character. A child that loves Jesus and the Word of God. And loves to bless and serve people.
A mentor that will remind you that you want to FINISH well in parenting your children. To encourage you and be supportive as you learn to walk in step with God to train your children in the way they should go so when they are old, they will not depart from it.
Parents of older children
Our job as parents is to raise our children to accept responsibility and to learn to look to the Word for the answers to their questions.
As our children grow up, we are to CONTINUE to BE that role model. From the time they are born, let them “catch” you turning to the Lord for help. Let them SEE you praying and reading your Bible early in the morning and throughout the day. This is how we SHOW them the way they should go by going that way ourselves! To BE the example.
Then, when they ASK for advice or suggestions, we have earned the right to share what we have learned.
The difficult part is that UNTIL they ASK, we can only PRAY Scriptural prayers that they will walk in the Light as children of the Light…steadily growing more and more Christ-like. Our job is always waiting and watching. Trusting God in the process.
The hardest thing to do
After you have taught them and they understand the truth, the hardest thing EVER is to let them experience the consequences of their decisions, without “rescuing” them. It hurts us to see them suffer. (As it hurts our Father God to see us suffer the consequences of our choices.)
But with our children, we must step aside and trust God with the process. If I understand the Scripture correctly, the only way to become like Christ is to SUFFER. He is the suffering Servant. He is our role model.
We don’t develop real Godly character until we learn how to lean on the Lord in the midst of suffering. And, our children don’t develop real Godly character until they learn how to lean on the Lord in the midst of suffering. Don’t deny your kids that privilege and channel of blessing!
Pray for them. Be encouraging and understanding. Be kind. Don’t say “I told you so.” Be the quiet presence of one that trusts the Lord. But don’t “rescue”.
Start with baby steps.
No matter what age your children are. You CAN do this!!! Little by little you can reach your goals and BE the MOM you have always wanted to be!
You don’t have to do this alone. I am a mentor coach. I specialize in encouraging overwhelmed Moms. We all tend to repeat the “familiar” way of doing things. I help Moms create a “new familiar”.
Click the HELP button below to contact me. We can set up a short and focused inquiry call. No obligation. The purpose of the call is to see if we might be a good match to work together to strengthen and encourage you in your own personal life (discovering and embracing your strengths and spiritual gifts) and in your life as a parent.
Until next time,
The MomCourager™
