Pay Attention!

We go through our days doing the things that need to be done every day and most of the time we don't consciously think about it. One day runs into another and then we find ourselves at the end of another week and another month and we wonder where the time has gone.

When our children were born people told us not to blink because they grow up so quickly and being a young mother I listened to their advice but didn't fully realize how true it actually was until they were grown. But one thing I am thankful for was the fact that we home schooled our kids. We made home schooling a way of life for our family and every day was full of learning and instruction and sharing new experiences and trying new things.

 While we used a planned curriculum we didn't rely totally on it to be the only instruction our children received. We took advantage of every opportunity to teach our children and encourage their love of learning. This is something that every parent can do whether their child is home schooled or attends public school. As parents we not only have to provide food and shelter for our children so that they grow up healthy and protected; but we need to also feed their mind with knowledge and a hunger for learning.

It's important that we take the time to consciously teach our children so that they will be prepared for the life ahead. One of the most important things we can teach them is to guard their heart because the contents of their heart determines the course of their life. So what can we teach them to put in their heart? Things like compassion, love, kindness, empathy, loyalty, trust, as well as many others. What should we teach them to guard their heart against? Envy, jealousy, hatred, rebellion, suspicion, arrogance, pride, and on and on.

No one wants to set their child up for failure. We all want to see our children happy and successful in life. It has been said that kids don't come with an instruction book, but actually they do. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom and advice that if followed will lead to life. Let me encourage you to turn to the Bible for help in raising your children and be intentional in your instructions to them. Look for teaching moments. Look for opportunities to prepare them for their future. It's easy to let one day fall into another and suddenly your children are grown. Seize every moment to mould them and instruct them with love. God bless.


Proverbs 4:20-23

My child, pay attention to what I say.

Listen carefully to my words.

 Don’t lose sight of them.

  for they bring life to those who find them,

Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

and healing to their whole body.

 Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life.