RAISING YOUR CHILDREN

Alright, it’s confession time. Long, long ago, before I had children, I… uh… may have had a few misguided thoughts, which I now regret.

As a know-it-all, childless, young woman, I swore I would never be that mom. Yes, that mom. You know, the one in the grocery store whose kid’s boogers snake down his nose and trail into his gaping mouth while his diaper sags to his knees. The mom who ar- gues with her child in the food court over ice cream (and loses). That mother who drags her half-asleep, whiny brood to Walmart at 10 p.m. just to annoy the rest of us.

Okay, fast forward 10 years and three deliveries later. Now, I don’t think the situations above are advisable. Yet, I must admit, I have been guilty of all three at some point in the past decade. The fact is, in the course of caring for three tiny humans, I have messed up. Do I try? Yes. I try hard to raise them well. But a momma has to prior- itize now. Do I care about boogers or screaming and sagging drawers? Eh, not so much. There’s bound to be some “ugly” in the making of a masterpiece.

What is this Picasso of which I speak? Parents should aim to raise a caring, hard-working, self-controlled human who can boldly share their faith. So, is this mythical crea- ture attainable? Christian parents should not shy away from the challenge of rearing godly children. It is our charge to mold them into the man or woman God wants them to be. It is not enough to give them life. To provide for their physical needs. Let them live in your house. Send them to school. Pay for sports. No. The cultivation of children has two parts: intentional and practical. First, we must intentionally choose the values we want our children to have. Once we know our target outcome, we must implement practical training. Yes, I said training. No one said parenting was easy.

So, what do you wish to pass on to your children? There are so many things I want to convey to mine. The choices are boundless, even within the Christian faith. How do we choose which are the most im- portant to our families? I attended a workshop two years ago which helped me in this area. Through the Family ID (Intention- al Direction) Workshop, my husband and I were prompted to create the following family mission statement, which is both intentional and practical. Enjoy as you read this reflection of what God has placed on our hearts.

More information about Family ID can be found on their website https:// family-id.com. Until next week, be blessed and be a blessing to someone else.

Belew Family Mission Statement

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5: 2-3 (NIV)

Knowing God

Our ultimate goal in life is to know and Glorify God.

Our thoughts, words and actions will reflect the character of God.

We will read His Word daily, live in a spirit of prayer, and call out to Him throughout the day.

We will share the gospel with everyone we meet through words or actions.

Our lives will reflect a spirit of peace, knowing our future is with the Fa- ther in heaven.

Godly Character

We will be gentle and never harsh, bearing with one another in love.

We will choose a life of gratitude, finding the best in every situation.

We will obey the authority placed over us in our families, job, church, and nation.

We will keep our minds and bodies pure by focus- ing on the things of God, not the world.

We will be true to our word and loyal to those God has placed around us.

Serving Others

We will remain patient and humble, recognizing there is always something we can learn.

We will give generously and work hard to put the needs of others above our own.

We will welcome others in our home, building authentic relationships and actively discipling.

We will encourage each family member to discover their God-given gifts and use them to live out God’s calling on their life, including choosing a profession and future spouse.

Contact Cheyenne Belew at [email protected].