To view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IXSn3I_Cs1M
SHOW NOTES
Welcome to Episode 41 of the Hope Rescue Podcast! After wrapping up our series on marriage last week, we are starting a new short series this week on parenting. As listeners send in their questions, we try to answer them directly or as a podcast episode, and with the amount of questions we’ve received about parenting we thought we would do a short series covering the topic. We will be answering 5 questions over the course of this series:
1. What are your priorities in parenting?
2. How do you develop children with values?
3. How do you deal with negative or positive behaviors?
4. Do you view your children as a burden or a blessing?
5. What role should you play in your children's future?
We will take the next few weeks to answer all of the above questions, but throughout each episode in this series we will be referring back to Psalm 127 which says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Tim and Kimberly begin by answering question number one: What are your priorities in parenting? Kimberly explains that large priorities within their family have been family connection, connection to the Lord, and quality time and community within their family. Tim says to think about what your child will look back and remember when they become adults. Good or bad, they will remember what was a priority to your family. Kimberly says, “A family’s priorities tend to align with the parents’ values. If parents value money, success, status, entertainment, or popularity, their children will develop a false perception of what should be esteemed.” Tim and Kimberly are not saying that these things are evil, because their children played sports and were involved in extracurricular activities and placed value on their hobbies, but at the end of the day we need to be teaching our children to prioritize what matters eternally.
Tim says, “Our children are not just physical, they are not just emotional, and they are not just spiritual. Each of our children are body, soul, and spirit, and as they develop we have to speak to all of those aspects.” In the physical aspect, we have to prioritize exercise and nutrition, but not so much that our children become obsessed and develop unhealthy habits. In the emotional aspect, we have to love our children well and not discipline them for being childish. Children are going to be childish, and as parents it’s our job to train them out of it. Kimberly says, “If we can look back and see that we have vastly learned from our mistakes, why do we expect our children to never slip up?”
All parenting strategies have to come back to how God is involved with how the Lord builds the house. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Kimberly says that as parents, we need to help our children understand what the presence of the Lord looks like. It comes through worship, the Word, and a willing heart. She explains that especially for young moms with babies, it can be hard to even have a minute to yourself, let alone hours to study the Word. When Kimberly had young kids at home, even if she didn’t have time to get into the Word in the morning she would always play worship music in the house and in the car. By doing this, she instilled a priority in her children that has carried on into their adult years. Kimberly says, “Invite Jesus into your daily routines with your children, and make Him Lord over the small things. This will train your children to seek the Lord in all things.”
Be a spiritual leader for your children. Pray with your children, sing worship songs with your children, and share scripture with your children. These are three easy ways you can show your children that God is a priority in your family.
Join us next week as we continue our parenting series and answer the question, “How do you develop children with values?” We love you guys!
QUOTES
“A family’s priorities tend to align with the parents’ values. If parents value money, success, status, entertainment, or popularity, their children will develop a false perception of what should be esteemed.” -Kimberly
“Our children are not just physical. They are not just emotional. And they are not just spiritual. Each of our children are body, soul, and spirit, and as they develop we have to speak to all of those aspects.” -Tim
“If we can look back and see that we have vastly learned from our mistakes, why do we expect our children to never slip up?” -Kimberly
“Invite Jesus into your daily routines with your children, and make Him Lord over the small things. This will train your children to seek the Lord in all things.” -Kimberly
REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
Psalm 127 "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
