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DON’T ABDICATE YOUR THRONE
It was a scandal that rocked the British Isles. In January 1936, the King of England died. Following royal protocol, his eldest son assumed the throne, becoming King Edward the Eighth. But in December of that same year, only months into his reign, King Edward stunned the nation when he formally abdicated the country’s throne and, with it, many of the benefits that come with royalty.
What is especially alarming is the phrasing of the official decree, which ended in these haunting words: “I, Edward the Eighth … renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants.” Imagine. With one stroke of the pen, this man not only sealed his own fate, but the fate of his children and grandchildren for generations into the future.
As parents, we, too, occupy a throne in the sense that God has given us a position of authority in our kids’ lives. It’s crucial that we don’t renounce that influence. Children don’t need us to be their friend – someone telling them what they want to hear. They need a parent – an authority figure willing to speak truth into their lives. We should, of course, listen to our children and give their views careful consideration, but our kids should not be allowed to run the home. That’s our God-given responsibility.
Take the lesson of King Edward to heart. Abdicating your authority could risk your kids’ future for generations to come.
For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.
It was a scandal that rocked the British Isles. In January 1936, the King of England died. Following royal protocol, his eldest son assumed the throne, becoming King Edward the Eighth. But in December of that same year, only months into his reign, King Edward stunned the nation when he formally abdicated the country’s throne and, with it, many of the benefits that come with royalty.
What is especially alarming is the phrasing of the official decree, which ended in these haunting words: “I, Edward the Eighth … renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants.” Imagine. With one stroke of the pen, this man not only sealed his own fate, but the fate of his children and grandchildren for generations into the future.
As parents, we, too, occupy a throne in the sense that God has given us a position of authority in our kids’ lives. It’s crucial that we don’t renounce that influence. Children don’t need us to be their friend – someone telling them what they want to hear. They need a parent – an authority figure willing to speak truth into their lives. We should, of course, listen to our children and give their views careful consideration, but our kids should not be allowed to run the home. That’s our God-given responsibility.
Take the lesson of King Edward to heart. Abdicating your authority could risk your kids’ future for generations to come.
For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.
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About this Plan
Parenting isn’t all nuts and bolts. Children thrive when there’s an atmosphere of God’s love and grace in the home. It’s that sense of belonging a child feels in knowing who they are is more important than what they do. And you don’t communicate that in a single moment through a lecture. It’s instilled into a child’s heart subtly over time by a mom and dad who undergird biblical values and expectations with the nurture and support of relationship.
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We would like to thank Jim Daly and Focus on the Family for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.FocusontheFamily.com
