It’s going to pass so quickly.
This weekend I was considering how few are the years I have left with our daughters living in our home. In that time, I have so many things that I want to instill in them.
Yes, there are household lessons like cooking and ironing, meal planning and money management. But more importantly, I want to make the most of this time that I have to actively influence who they are as people.
At ages eleven and nine, their independence is increasing and there are more often occasions where they are outside the home without us. As parents, we need to be sure we have laid the foundation that will guide them to be discerning and to make wise decisions on their own.
Three areas that I feel are of vital importance at this moment are the following:
- Knowing how to be a good friend and how to choose good friends.
- Understanding that everything in life boils down to choices – how you choose to use your time, your money, your talents, your influence.
- Recognizing that in standing for what’s right according to God’s Word, there may be times when you will be different from the crowd and may have to stand alone.
In the coming weeks, my husband and I want to focus on these concepts, along with a few others, during our nightly Bible study time with our girls. Lord willing, I will share some of what we learn together in the coming days.
Are there specific qualities that you’re currently working on with your children?
It's amazing to look at the time we have our children with us and realize how short that time frame is, isn't it? Praying for you while you work to guide their hearts.
Thank you for your prayers! "Working to guide their hearts" is a great way to put what I'm asking the Lord to help me do.
There is so much to teach them in such a short amount of time. Since my children have a little boy with Down's syndrome in their Sunday school class and a handicapped cousin, I'm working with them not to tease other children just because they're different. My children have never done this, and I hope to keep them from it.
What a wonderful lesson to be teaching your children! You are laying important groundwork for compassion and empathy in their lives.