Parenting 101: Lessons From Jesus' Earthly ParentsSample

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 (KJV)

Jesus’ parents swaddled Him! Was it by divine inspiration, or because it was a traditional way to soothe and keep babies warm as they adjust to life outside the womb? I don't know. However, swaddling a newborn shows Joseph and Mary were mindful parents. They thought of their newborn's comfort and safety. Studies show that swaddling reduces the risk for Sudden Infant Death, it helps the newborn fall asleep, and it is one way to soothe a crying baby in the first 6 to 8 weeks of life.

Joseph and Mary taught us something important about infant care¬- we must keep the newborn’s comfort in mind when we feed, bathe, clothe, or put them to sleep.

If swaddling was done based on tradition, we could also learn from Joseph and Mary's value for the previous generations' way of parenting. It reminds me of Proverbs 22:28. I love The Passion Translation of that scripture: The previous generation has set boundaries in place. Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself.

While the previous generation is not without flaws, there are core family values rooted in Bible principles we should not dare move. This generation struggles with conforming to what's popular. Conforming to the world's way of parenting is easy, and it can make us popular. However, the consequences of conforming or moving the boundaries the previous generation has set are costly in the long run.