WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL, 4TH DECEMBER. WORDS FOR MOMS AND DADS - PART 1

WORDS FOR MOMS AND DADS

This week I would like to have a chat with parents. The responsibility of being a parent is quite overwhelming for most of us, and as such, I thought to share a few pointers on the role of a parent.

First, who made you a parent? God made you a parent, by giving you children. Did you know, however, that every child is a reward from the Lord?

Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."(NLT)

How do you handle a gift that you receive from someone you love? Do you treat it with care, or you do you throw it in the dustbin? You treat the gift with care because you love the person who gave it to you. In the same way, we should value our children because they are gifts from the Lord.

What are the duties of a parent? We will look at two key responsibilities of parents below.

1. Love your children

God gives us the perfect example of how to love our children.

Psalm 103:13 "The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him." (NLT)

We need to show tenderness and compassion (love) to our children all the time. Our love for our children should not be dependent on their behavior, performance in school or achievements in life. Love your children because they are yours.

Note that loving your child does not mean ignoring negative behavior. Correct your child lovingly, and he or she will return to the right path.

2. Provide for your children

As parents, we must also provide for our children. Children are very dependent on their parents until they reach the age of 18. Until then, parents need to provide food, shelter, clothing and access to education. These are the basic things necessary for the healthy growth and development of any child.

As the children grow older, they will need to learn the basics of financial management. Teach them to manage  household supplies well. Do not just give the children what they need and assume that they will know how to manage their homes in future.

Proverbs 13:22a "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." (AMP)

What kind of legacy do you plan to leave for your kids? Will it benefit future generations?

As you invest with your children in mind, make sure that you prepare them to manage the investments so that they will also be able to provide for their children. Teach them how to manage their money early. As soon as you introduce pocket money, introduce the principles of saving. That way, you will not only have provided for your children's present needs but also their future needs.

Dear parents, this may seem like a difficult task. With God's help, however, you will be a great parent. If you ever feel like you are running short on strength for the task, meditate on the words below.

Psalms 29:11 "The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace." (NLT)

Have a great week as you enjoy the parenting journey!