[Keep Walking] The Perseverance of Parenting預覽

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat 

Every parent knows that a good part of parenthood is the continuous repeating of things over and over again. We say, “I love you” to our kids countless times during our lifetime. When our kids are babies, we repeat words to them so they can begin to understand our language and what words mean. When they start crawling and walking, “no” and “do not touch that” are some of the words we use the most. As our kids get older, we change our vocabulary. In every stage of parenthood, there are different words or phrases we constantly repeat to our children.

As good Christian parents to our children, we must have a good relationship with God the Father. This should be a relationship that is contagious. We need to pray daily for our family, children,  and spouse. The Bible also tells us to repeat God’s principles and teachings to our children everywhere we go, all the time. 

God has given us guidelines as parents. Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.” One of the ways human beings learn is by receiving the same information over and over again. Repetition helps to improve speed, increases confidence, and strengthens the connections in the brain that help children learn. Repetition is a key part of learning. 

Remember life before smartphones? How did we remember phone numbers? By looking at them numerous times or by repeating them. Repetition. The Bible says this about God’s principles: “Repeat them to your children.” Repeat, repeat, repeat.

It is really hard in today’s society to protect God’s principles and to protect purity. As parents, we might feel like we are swimming against the tide, but God has given us many guidelines in the Bible to do things right as parents. Repeat His words to our children from the day they are born, everywhere, all the time. Repeat them when we go to sleep, when we wake up, when we go out, when we are in the car, when we are having dinner, and when we are sitting together. 

We cannot expect our kids to grow up loving God if we do not teach them by example and by repetition. We cannot expect them to learn everything at Sunday School, at church, or from their Christian friends. As parents, we are responsible to bring them closer to God and to His Word.