The Spiritual Fitness ManualSample

Parenting – Part 2

By Joe White, President, Kanakuk Kamps 

A parent’s first response to a child of any age who reels with the pain of failure is to “lay him on his shoulders.” No big advice, no “I told you so,” no wise plan for remedy, no major solutions. The parent comforts, the parent listens, the parent’s heart bleeds. Kids trust their pain to the parent who listens. Empathy opens the lock to a hurting little heart.

1. DISCOVER THE CHAMPIONS IN YOUR HOME

After working, counseling, living and talking with hundreds of thousands of teenagers I have found that there is a champion in every one—if that child’s parents will only take the time to discover the vein of gold in their child’s heart.

Your kids are God’s treasured gift to you. Whatever age your children are... today is a great day to bring out the best in each of their lives.

2. TEACH YOUR KIDS TO DREAM AND TO DREAM BIG

Daddy taught me how to dream. He dreamed with me and he helped my dreams come true. Too many kids in America are not taught to dream. They feel like failures. Parents encourage your children to build big dreams for themselves.

3. GIVE YOUR KIDS THE FORGIVENESS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU

The close-knit families I’m around aren’t made up of perfect kids or perfect parents, but they do have this in common: they are a team of professional forgivers.

Give your kids the forgiveness God has given you.

4. LIVE RIGHT

Your greatest opportunity to teach your kids the character qualities you want to see in their lives is in how you live your daily life. Children do give their parents room for failure, but in general they cling to what they see in their parents’ everyday lives.  More than anything else, I want my children to see a father whose number one goal in life is to love God with all his heart, a father with the ability to ask for forgiveness. That integrity is more important than making a dollar. And finally, that their very average dad loves their very priceless mother with uncompromising dedication.

 “Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” –Chuck Swindoll