How To Make The Right Parenting DecisionSample

What Type of Person Do You Want to Be?

Our decisions reveal our character. Proverbs 20:11 outlines the simple fact that both children and adults “make themselves known by their acts.” Just as you want your children to develop good character, you too want to be an "imitator of God" as in Ephesians 5:1-2.

You can use character as a decision-making tool. When you’re facing a tough decision, ask yourself: “What type of person do I want to be?”

Terry and Rich always knew they wanted to be adoptive parents. “It feels like the natural thing to do,” Terry says, “to bring more people into our family.”

At the same time, their real-life journey towards adoption has confronted them with many difficult decisions. One dilemma Terry and Rich faced was whether to take a foster placement of two children under 3 years old.

Terry says, “When they called and said, ‘We have siblings,’ I was like: ‘I know how to do one kid—but…”

Terry and Rich came to a decision by being clear on their family character. They had long ago asked themselves “What type of parents do we want to be?” Adoption is a major part of their answer to that question. They said yes to the pair of siblings.

“There’s a lot to figure out, and then there’s not,” says Terry, who is strengthened by a daily practice of reading Scripture.

“I read the Bible this morning. There was a line in Psalm 113 about how God gives people families. And when I  was reading it, I was like, ‘Yes!’ It’s such a privilege to be entrusted with a human being. And it’s also really hard. Figuring that out is beautiful.”

When you face a tough decision about your children, ask yourself, “What type of person do I want to be?”

Prayer

Lord I want to imitate you in my decisions. Shape my character through your Word. Amen.