Well-Adorned Children

I just had the privilege of having my sister and her three children in our home for a couple of days.

I’m amazed at all that my sister does, how she ministers to her family and in her church.  She encourages me with her dedication to and love for the Lord.  She and her husband are raising two little boys to be obedient, respectful, well-mannered gentlemen.  She also has a precious three-month old daughter. 

I have forgotten how much physical labor is involved in parenting little ones!  At 14 and 12, my girls can do almost everything for themselves.  Parenting at these ages is much more mental than physical (unless you count driving them to and from their activities :).

I talk often about seasons of life, but the past few days reminded me how true it is.  She’s in the season of littles; I’m in the season of tweens and teens.  Yet whether our children are infants or young adults, we all want to see them love the Lord and grow into a relationship with Him.

Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”  

As parents, we are to instruct and train our children.  That instruction and teaching, done according to God’s Word, can adorn our children with grace and bring blessings in their lives.  That’s why we teach them to obey us; so that one day, they will obey God and His Word.  We work on their attitudes so that they can learn to face life and respond to its trials with the joy and peace of the Lord.  We demonstrate kindness to others so that they will learn compassion.  In every area of life, we can guide our children into wisdom and understanding.

Bible-based truths are the jewels, the adornments we want for our children to wear.  No matter what season we’re in as moms and dads, let’s ask God to help us rear children who will be well-adorned!