The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading PlanSample

Up on the Rooftop

This verse could just as easily say it’s better to live on the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome husband, teen or child. The intended spirit is this: If anyone in the house is inclined toward quarreling, the whole house suffers.

What do you do with a quarrelsome child? There are no perfect answers, but here are a few suggestions. Make sure you have consequences for squabbling children. Take something away they really enjoy. Initially that may cause more arguments, but hopefully it will teach them a lesson. Give them more responsibility. When children aren’t busy, they are prone to think of themselves more. When that happens, they become quarrelsome. So don’t let their minds be idle. After trying these suggestions, if the situation doesn’t improve, seek counseling or pastoral advice. You might be too close to the situation to see it clearly. Listen to godly advice, and hopefully it will lead you to enjoying more of your home rather than just the corner of the roof.

Parenting Principle

Choose peace over quarreling and live in the house, not on the corner of the roof.

Points to Ponder

*What might bring on a quarrelsome attitude for you?

*When do your children seem to quarrel more?

*Besides the ideas above, how can you help your family in this area?

Taken from Once a Day Nurturing Great Kids