7 Simple Ways to Love Your Son or Daughterናሙና

Day One

“I Value You”

Scripture: Psalm 18:19; Zephaniah 3:17

(Matt) My  father thought I was an awesome young man; he told this to everybody. There was only one problem: he never told ME. All the way into my late twenties, I believed my dad didn’t really like being with me. 

Today, we have an excellent relationship and we’ve talked all this through. But, what a powerful impact it had on me as a young man to believe my dad didn’t like my company. 

Many parents think their kids are downright amazing and spend plenty of time talking about them to other people. However, for your child to know and believe it’s true, you’re going to have to do more than tell your friends how wonderful you think your children are. 

A child's thinking is powerful. It's based on what he believes, not what is true. Loving your kids requires that you demonstrate, in ways meaningful to them, that you genuinely enjoy being with them.

You can start by verbalizing this truth to your child at a young age. If you’re coming at this when your son or daughter is a young adult, you can start by saying, “[Name], I like being with you.” Just say those words. Many kids have never heard such affirming words out of a parent’s mouth. Let your child hear you say them loud and clear. 

Another simple, practical way to express how much you enjoy your kids is to invite them to come along with you on errands, service projects, or trips. An invitation is a way of saying, “I take joy in being with you.” It’s simple. Like a lot of simple things in life, speaking to your child's heart comes with great power.

When we show our kids how much we delight in them, we are reflecting our heavenly Father’s delight in us. In Zephaniah we read, “The Lord your God is with you…. He will take great delight in you” (Zephaniah 3:17). As you express to your child how much you enjoy him or her, reflect on the truth that God delights in you!

What is one thing you could do this week to show your child that you don’t just love him, you like him too?