Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became ParentsSample

Education and Apology Are Important Parenting Tools

On day three of Creation, God made dry land, vegetation, and plants (Genesis 1:9-13).

My dad farmed. Early each spring, he plowed the soil to soften it for planting. He then planted various crops in spring and early summer, protected and nurtured them throughout the summer, and harvested them as the summer went along.

Farming is like that—it takes much time and energy, but in the end, we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Genesis 1:9-13 makes me think about the similarities of farming and parenting. We as parents want to give our children a firm foundation in life. We “plant” the seeds of relationship, knowledge, and structure in our children’s lives, then protect and nurture them as they grow and begin producing their own “fruit.”

Just as farmers need tools, parents need tools to raise our children.

One tool God gives us is education. Parents are responsible for our children’s formal education and must make wise decisions about where they go to school. We may choose among public, private, religious-affiliated, and homeschool options. Our careful choices about our children’s education can positively influence their ongoing development for years to come.

Another tool God gives us is apology. Parents don’t always “get it right.” We make mistakes and may at times say or do things that can potentially damage our relationship with our children. Recognizing our wrongdoing and humbling ourselves to offer a heartfelt “I’m sorry” not only strengthens our relationship; this also teaches our children the value of humility and apology.

I know—education and apology don’t necessarily have much to do with each other.  They do, though, have a lot to do with parenting. They both are important choices (or tools) that greatly shape our children’s ability to reach their potential and produce their own “fruit” in life. The prospect of our children doing well in life and in relationships is definitely a worthwhile fruit of our labor.