Passing it On

I think most parents would agree that we want to pass on good things to our kids because we love them, and we hope in our heart-of-hearts that we aren't passing on too many of our "bad traits" to them. Most Christian parents I know would say they really want to leave a godly legacy to their children, but in the day-to-day grind, we sometimes lose sight of our real purpose as parents and we get lost in the details. Sometimes we just need a kick-in-pants to re-focus on our purpose and be reminded that our purpose as Christian parents is to leave a biblical legacy.
God gives a mandate in scripture to parents. He tells us that our job is to teach our children about Him.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (New Living Translation)
“ …you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

It is our job as parents to teach our children about the Lord and how to live in obedience to His word. You may be thinking, "But I send my child to Sunday School, and a Christian School, and VBS, and he/she is learning it from people who are trained to that sort of thing. Why should I have to do it?" The answer is simple: because as parents, we are the biggest influencers in our child’s life.

In Exodus 20:6, God tells Moses:
“I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.”

What we do now matters – it impacts future generations. The fact is: You WILL pass on something…the question is, what are you passing on?

Everything we need to know about passing on a Godly legacy to our children in found in scripture. The Bible is as valid for us now as it was for all the generations of parents before us.

So, there’s good news and bad news:
The good news is: You have tremendous power to shape your child’s life
The bad news is: You have tremendous power to shape your child’s life!

When we as parents really understand that the choices we make today affect the way our children remember their childhoods, that those decisions mold who they are and how they see life, that’s when we get serious about making changes that create a godly legacy. That's when we bring some balance to our decisions and become intentional as parents. Children thrive best in an atmosphere of genuine love and affection, supported by reasonable, consistent discipline and boundaries.

In this day and time, with so much trying to win the hearts and minds of our children, we can’t just rely on hope or luck to raise "good" kids that might someday live a godly life. We must be intentional and make a CHOICE to parent according to God’s Word and make it a priority to INFUSE that into every choice we make.

Legacies are built one day at a time. What can you do today to get your family back on track? Read the Bible together, pray together, and learn to filter everything through the truth of God's word.

Have a blessed day!

Kym