teaching

nakabi

Teaching my children is one of the highest priorities in my life right now. Teaching them to know God and come to Him with everything and listen to Him speak to them. Teaching them to be friends with each other, to love others and be thankful in all things, to be givers, to listen, obey, be successful, independent, smart…this list goes on and on…

Now, I am not perfect, nor are they…but what we are currently learning together is that the things we have are more than enough. We are blessed. We have food to eat everyday (even if it’s not what they always like to eat or what I always like to cook!), we have a home that is sturdy and has enough room for us to live, we have good vehicles to drive that get us where we need to go. We have more than enough clothes to wear for each season. More specific to their level, I am teaching them to be thankful for the toys they have, that they have bikes, a bed and shoes & clothes to wear. More specific to my level…not desire things that I don’t have…just be grateful for what I do have.

Just like God desires to bless His children, I desire to bless mine. I want to give them the best things in this life – new clothes, the best food, all the toys they want…but you know what? All those things are just THINGS. In eternity, they mean nothing. If all of this was taken away from us today, we would still be blessed. We would still have each other and a God who desires to do good for us.
So, I teach them instead what is more important than things. Love God. Love one another. Be thankful. Communicate. Sing. Value people and see them as God does. My children have someone to play with all the time who will be their closest friend {aka sibling!}. If these are their priorities, then all the rest will be added to them

Ephesians 6:1-4 – This is what David, Fiona, & I have been learning together:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. Honour (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise-- That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.