Sep. 19, 2007
Minding our children
Posted in Spiritual Life
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Years ago, a dear friend of mine mentioned that she was struggling to "mind" her children. We discussed the ins and outs of this concept of parenting. That conversation has stuck with me through the years as I have been working with my own children in day to day training. I wonder if part of the problems with our children and teens is due to parents just to busy to "mind" their children and all that entails. So often in my busy life I justify just being physically home as enough, forgetting that complete parenting also involves a great deal of thinking accompanied with action on a daily basis. My being in our home is good, but it is always better when I am in thought about them as I go through the day, rather than, going about my daily work and activities knowing there are children in this house somewhere! Been there many times! I am not talking about a stressful minute by minute evaluation of our children's every move. I am talking about a flow of awareness to what they are doing, where they are going, discussing actions and attitudes as the need arises and requires attention. Keeping my mind alert to their learning needs not only educationally but emotionally and spiritually as well. Is this not what our Heavenly Father does for us? Psalm 115:112 The Lord has been mindful of us, He will bless us. Psalm 8:4 What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? God is my role model for parenting, although He is the perfect parent without fault, I cannot compare to Him, only learn from His example. This "minding the children" is another reason I am excited about having less business paper work to do as the rental business is shutting down. I know that it was a battle to "mind" my precious children when I had 4 hours of office work to do in a morning. For our family situation it was not been working well. But, I will testify that God has been good in filling in the gaps left by our parenting mistakes, and He will continue to do that work in our children's lives in the future. This "minding" the children is also a needed practice outside our homes and in public, because children not being "minded" in public places shed a bad light on our faith. Anyone who owns a business or knows someone who runs one can get an earful on how terrible it is to have parents and children in their establishment where the children are not being "minded" by the parent. On the other hand, our children come home from their jobs and tell stories of wonderful families who come in to their places of work and the parents keep an eye on them, "mind" them, and they are a blessing to do business with. Is it fun to mind children in public? Not always. Sometimes I would rather drink my latte, hazlenut please, and converse with friends than to make sure my children are in good behavior. But, training does not stop just because we have entered the public eye. In fact, who our children are can show up loud and clear in public. Been there, many times and I remember well, and I am sure I will go there again soon with my precious and very human children. These can be great opportunities to teach values, as long as I am minding them, and not choosing to ignore them and stay preoccupied with what is more fun; like fellowship or the tasks as hand. I am thankful for a heavenly Father who is watching me, minding me, keeping me aware of His presence from which I cannot hide. I am thankful that He does not waste a moment to teach me, train me, speak truth to me. Oh to be like Him in this way! |
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