A Parenting Challenge

I have been reminded recently that the subject of parenting has been absent in public preaching for some time, perhaps for too long.  Consequently, I am giving some beginning thought to a series of sermons related to raising leaders for the next generation–a focused study on raising sons.  Your prayers are much appreciated as to whether this would be a timely subject and, if so, how best to approach it.  The series would aim at being brief but intense.

In this  article I want to challenge parents regarding the necessity of training children to be kind and welcoming toward other children.  You who are in the throes of parenting, how much attention do you devote to the development of love in your children? The Second Greatest Commandment requires that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  That is broad.  That is also a moral absolute.  Presumably all Christian parents are big on teaching their children to behave righteously, as in “don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t dishonor your parents, don’t injure your siblings”.  How much attention is devoted to training children in the even more basic righteousness of love?  Are children being taught sensitivity toward all of their peers and not just their immediate friends?  Are they being taught to seek out peers who appear to be without close companions?  Are they being instructed not to draw back from children who seem different to themselves?  Are they encouraged to befriend those who have apparent needs and not to shy away from them?

One of the very best things we can do for our children is to wean them of self-centeredness by training them to be compassionate and responsive to others.  But, this will not happen unless parents purpose to focus on it.  So, how broad is your child’s circle of friends?  Does it include children both rich and poor?  Does it include children of differing races or ethnic groups?  Does it include children who have special needs whether physical or mental?  Do they have access to children in these categories?  If so, why are such children being excluded from their social network?

Parents, please do not dismiss this quickly.  Raising our children for the honor of God surely requires training them to be loving, especially toward the needy.

(The author of this blog is spelling challEnged)