Five Tips for Parents

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right  ...  . And, ye [parents], provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1,41Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Here are five things that we should remember when raising our children.
1. Do not discipline in anger. I often put my children “in ward” until I could figure out how best to discipline them, and until my emotions simmered down. “In ward” was their bedrooms. “Provoke not your children to wrath” (Eph. 6:44And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)).
2. Don’t “roast” your brothers and sisters in Christ. Criticism of the people you love can instill disrespect in your children. Refusing to criticize others helps your children grow up with a genuine affection for the saints, which in turn teaches them to respect the things they hear from them. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren” (James 4:1111Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (James 4:11)).
3. Be in agreement as parents. Do not allow the children to play one parent against the other. “Every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matt. 12:2525And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Matthew 12:25)).
4. Nurture a relationship with your children. Love and grace form the bond with our children, not arbitrary rules. Rules without relationship foster rebellion. “My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways” (Prov. 23:2626My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26)).
5. Let your children know that ultimately they will answer to God and are responsible to Him. “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psa. 34:1111Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:11)).