Food For Thought: “Children Learn What They Live”

I appreciate this classic poem by Dorothy Law Nolte:

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

In the book “The Little Handbook on Loving Correction: How to Raise Happy, Obedient, Respectful Children” by Larry Tomczak, he shares the value of each parent’s responsibility to assist the child in curbing his selfish nature, and to guide and work with him to unravel, develop, and use his gifts for the Lord’s glory.

I pray that as my husband and I turn to the Bible, and learn from godly counsel and look into our own hearts about just how much we love our child (and want her to grow into a God-fearing individual whose life is devoted to Him), we can successfully raise Drian and cherish her as the gift and reward that she is to us.  Heehee. That’s a LOOONG sentence.

God has directed us to be stewards of His blessings.  I pray we’ll be able to consistently correct our child and train her up in the way she should go.  It is our (my husband’s and mine) biblical responsibility as parents to administer loving correction to Drian.

I love how Dr. Ross Campbell, author of “How To Really Love Your Child” shares his thoughts on showing love to our children: “Make sure you always keep your child’s emotional tank full!”  It’s important that we are able to express love and affection and encouragement and support, while striking a balance of discipline and correction to our little girl.

It’s truly not easy to be a parent. Yet I will never trade this rollercoaster-experience for any other.