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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Children: Our Most Precious Asset
It should be no secret that our most precious asset is not our money, our house, our job or our stocks and bonds. It is our precious children. They may be at your knee or grown with their own children, but what a wonderful blessing our children are and will continue to be.
I am going to do something a smart man would know not to do, but I’m going to give advice about your children. I made my own mistakes as a parent, as all of us do, but those mistakes and those I have seen others make give me a platform from which I can form the following suggestions.
As precious as they are, children require our time and energy. They do not always agree with their parents and sometimes stray from our instructions. Our mistakes have the potential to drive them away from us and from the Lord, but our love for them and the Lord can also bring them back from the wrong paths to the path of righteousness.
Consider the following; discard the ones you think have no merit, but at least consider them. Our only purpose is to assure the well-being of our most precious asset.
- Tell Them Often You Love Them. Make sure they know of your love, and that your rules, your discipline and your limits come from that love. They will not always understand, but if they know how much you love them, they will learn to trust you to keep them on a path that is safe, both physically and spiritually.
- Take Control of Your Home. Sure, children should have a part in the family’s plans, but they also need to know that you – the parents – are ultimately in control. This not only results in improved relationships, but will also provide the sense of personal security they need.
- Don’t Shelter Them From The Consequences Of Their Actions. When a mistake is made, let them know what it was, and if there are negative consequences, they need to know what they are and the cost of those mistakes. Parents can do great harm to children when they do not show the connection between mistakes and their consequences.
- Make Your Home A Place Where They Want To Be. If your children know they can bring their friends home with them, you will be making progress in several areas. For one, your children will be comfortable at home and will enjoy being there. If their friends feel just as comfortable, you will have the joy of seeing your children happy, and you will know where they are. That can eliminate stress for you. A ping-pong table or a pool table will be a small expense when you see the difference in your children.
- Give Children Responsibilities In The Operation Of The Home. Chores, duties that are appropriate to their age and ability provide self-worth and help them be part of the family. It also would not hurt for them to learn how a home works and how much is involved in having a home.
- Learn How To Listen To Your Children. Their complaints and their ideas deserve to be heard and considered. You can’t expect them to listen to you if you won’t really listen to them. They may be smarter than you think.
- Make Sure They See The Joy Of Being A Christian In You. Those who hear only “thou shalt nots” are most likely to look for ways to leave their home and abandon the Lord. Parents need to discover again how much joy there is in being a child of God – then show it! Gripes and complaints about the church do not need to be their daily bill of fare.
- Occasionally, They Need To Hear “We Can’t Afford That…” They need to learn the relative value of the necessities as well as the options. Knowing that there are limits to the family treasures will be a valuable lesson for today and for their future, 1 John 2:15-17.
- Let Them Hear You Say, “I Messed Up.” Admit your mistakes – your children are already aware of them! Let them see what it takes to fix things that are broken.
- Give Them A Good Example To Follow. The most effective lessons you will ever teach will be those of which you are not aware. Children, very young and even grown, are constantly watching how you respond to people, how you face stress, how you treat each other and how you deal with ethical matters.
When children see their parents pray, study their Bible and live in harmony with it, parents are teaching.
The fruit of these actions are not seen overnight and we may not see them for another twenty years, but the lessons learned from parents – whether good or bad – are not easily forgotten. The challenge of being a parent will be your greatest challenge. Children are your greatest assets. Believe me – they can be a wonderful blessing all your days.
Carl B. Garner
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“Children have never been good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
“The child is the father of the man.”
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God,”
“Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children.”
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The Christian's Guide to Getting Away
(without going away)
The traveling season is upon us. Families will be loading up the vehicles, paying extra for gasoline, mapping out routes to destinations far and near. Here are a few practical suggestions for the Christian and family as vacation travel gets underway.
The Underlying Principles: We are always who we are – and that includes Christians. We take vacations from work and jobs, from housework and chores, to visit interesting sites or attractions, family or friends. But we are always us. And us is Children of God.
- Don’t leave God at home with the job. Christians worship as a way of life. We continue to eat (maybe even more), sleep (maybe even more), cherish time in relation to others (maybe even more), so why “vacate” our relationship with God?
In your planning of your travels, plan to meet and worship with your Christian family in other locations. We have directories of congregations of the Lord’s people so that we can find faithful brethren with whom to worship. It is unfortunate that this caveat (warning) must be included, but not all congregations are what they should be. Take time to locate a faithful congregation where you can worship and enjoy fellowship without reservation.
- Take your own Bible. Our daily habits of study, prayer and worship should be maintained regardless of where we are. And, as we sit and listen to the teacher or preacher where we are visiting, how much more effective to study through the pages of the Bible we know best! The younger members of our family will see also the importance of having God’s Word “in hand,” as do the members of the congregation we are visiting.
- Take time to view God’s creation. Psalm 19 is still true. Let your family and friends understand that they are seeing the creative power of the One Who loves and cares for us. Be willing to talk about the Lord on vacation, having meaningful conversations with family and friends in the thought – and reflection – encouraging environment of a relaxing vacation.
- Remember the home congregation. One of the ways we worship and support the work of the Lord is through our contributions each Lord’s Day (Philippians 4:17). Even though we may take a week off from our local routine, the local work and responsibilities of the congregation continue. Make certain to give your contribution for the period of traveling either before you leave or when you get home.
Also, you might plan to put something in addition into the collection plate of the congregations you visit. In many parts of the country and world, the church struggles to have enough material resources to seize opportunities for good. Put something extra in the offering where you are visiting! You (and they) will be glad you did.
- Don’t let non-Christian family or friends pull you away from meeting with your spiritual family. To do so makes at least two things happen. First, it says to your family, including your immediate family, that your convictions and spiritual ties are not that strong or important. It may undermine all the hard work you have done in trying to reach family and friends with the gospel. It also tells the children that we leave God at home with the job or pets. Second, it deprives the congregation we would otherwise visit of our company, encouragement, and support.
- Support the faithful congregation where you are visiting. Christians can get to know congregations where they are able to visit frequently. Often, the brethren look forward to vacations becausethey can be back among friends made on earlier trips. The Lord’s people are good people, and it is a true joy to be able to meet and know other Christians over many years. This also helps us to be aware of ways in which we may be of continued assistance to congregations that may need support from time to time.
- Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to get up and walk out of services in a congregation where the Lord is not being worshipped as He deserves. You might even leave a card, e.g., visitor’s card, with a note about why you cannot stay. It reminds them that there are some who will make discerning choices. Who knows what this simple statement will do.
Times for recreation are important because they give us needed breaks from the routine and taxing responsibilities carried throughout the year. We ought to thank the Lord for the blessings we continually receive, including the wherewithal to make such trips. As we vacation, let us remember that we are always married to Christ (Romans 7:4) and not forget Him in our travels.
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