7 Simple Ways to Love Your Son or DaughterSample

Day Five

"The Joy of Hard Work"

Scripture: Psalm 128:2; Philippians 2:14–15; Colossians 3:23–24

(Matt) When our youngest sons were ages five through nine, winter was coming and four cords of wood needed to be stacked in the shed. A cord of wood is four feet high, four feet wide, and eight feet long. Yes, it was a huge job, but it needed to be done. I knew they could do it, one step at a time.

I didn’t check on the job until it was done . . . two days later. They did it all. I believed they could do it and then left them to prove it to themselves. Kids are capable of a whole lot! 

If you live in the country like we do, there are countless opportunities to teach your child about work. When my kids get tired and want to quit, I tell them that excellent workers work until the job is done, and then I follow up with positive words about being finished soon. This is love in action. 

Maybe you live far from any ranch/farm opportunities, but where you live has no bearing on teaching your child self-respect through hard work. Hard work and good character go together. You can’t separate them. God expects your child to know how to work diligently and have a good attitude about it (see Philippians 2:14–15).

Maybe you live in a New York apartment, for example. Someone has to carry the groceries from the store to the tenth floor. Why not commission your child with the job? And be sure to speak encouragingly to her before, during, and after the job is done. Even if your child is only two years old, you can put an orange in a plastic bag and have him carry it and praise him to the skies for his good work. 

If we have our heads in the game, it doesn’t matter where we live. We can focus the minds of our young people on learning the joy and value of hard work and in the process teach them self-respect—that pillar of good character that is acquired only through genuine accomplishment. 

What type of work could your child help you with this week? How could you encourage an older child in his or her job or responsibilities?