They Need Your Praise Too - Wednesday February 10, 2016
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
I like this funny story about looking for the silver lining in the dark cloud. The parents were very disappointed in the grades that their son brought home. "The only consolation I can find in these awful grades," lamented the father, "is that I know he never cheated during his exams."
Sometimes our children, especially our teenagers, seem to do everything wrong. It's frustrating as a parent to be constantly correcting for disobedience and bad attitudes.
We had a situation with one of our older children just like the story above, where he seemed to do everything wrong. We were constantly correcting and disciplining him about something. The conflict not only made us weary, but it didn't seem to have any positive effect on his behavior. Our good intentions only exasperated him.
God convicted me that I was obsessed with the "awful grades" and was not looking for the good things our son was doing. I repented, and then, with God's help, began to look for and praise our child for the positive things he did. My wife and I noticed gradual improvement in our teenager and an immediate improvement in our peace of mind.
Danelle and I marvel at the confidence and accomplishments of our children. We are convinced that the steps of faith they have taken – starting new businesses, getting married, having families, sharing Christ, making disciples, and leading other Christians – are directly related to the praise they received as children.
Your children need your praise too. They can't thrive without it. They won't fail with it!
Submitted by:
Stephen Scott Nelson
Atlanta House Churches
Atlanta, Georgia
One-Year Reading Plan:
Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalms 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32
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