Pleasing God in family matters

Don and Catherine speaking in Manila church on Family Life in 2004

Recently we were asked to give some comments on the best things to do in order to have your children become what God wants them to be. The following is a list of some of the keys that seemed to be important for our family. It is important to understand that every child is different and must be treated as an individual. You may notice that we have included “love” both at the beginning and the end. That is not an accident. It is vital because God says “love” never fails

1. Love the Lord with all your heart.
2. Love each other with all your heart.
3. Love your children with all your heart.
4. Remember that loving them is not just saying it.
5. Believe in your children.
6. Never promise them anything you can’t fulfill.
7. Never promise them any punishment you know you won’t execute.
8. Give them the best of your time possible.
9. Let them fight their own battles—school, friends, etc.
10.Have confidence in the teachers, group leaders, and others who work with your children. Be realistic about problems.
11. Let them do their own homework, projects, etc.
12. Don’t hide family problems, needs, ambitions from them. Make sure they are really an integral part of all that is happening in the family.
13. Endeavor to always build pride in their church, school, and other groups. Do not have roast preacher for Sunday dinner. Do not develop bad attitudes about programs, people, and activities at church.
14. Endeavor to set the example of faithful attendance at church functions.
15. Try to be consistent in your lifestyle. Be fiscally responsible, morally exemplary, and modest in your apparel so the children do not think you are inconsistent when you expect them to be modest in their dress, responsible with their money, and morally above reproach.
16. Try to be sure to have family meals together. Try to make the meals really good so the children will feel that their home meals are better than any place else.
17. Make sure that you really deal with the important things and don’t get hung up on what really doesn’t matter.
18. Love them with all your heart.
19. Love the Lord with all your heart.