PARENTING

What a responsibility we have as parents. We are role models to our children. What ever we say or do, they may copy. The morals that we teach them as they grow up, may go with them. The Potter, Jesus Christ is molding His children into His image, we are molding our children by our image as parents. I am not saying we are to be the fault if our children grow up and be ungodly, but we sure can make a difference by how we live our lives and nurture our children. There is no perfect parent and no perfect child, but parents can teach their children the right way. Christians
are equipped with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to bring up a child, there is no better guide. Parenting is such a rewarding honor, to see our children grow up to be Godly adults is something I desire so much. To see our children walk with the Lord and someday become Godly parents and teach their children in a Godly manner. We as parents have SUCH a responsibility and we all need to pray for one another. The most important thing to teach our children is about God and be the image God wants us to be as parents.

The silent influence in parental conduct
(John Angell James, 1837)
Parents have a great power of influence over the minds and hearts of their children. Their children are almost continually with them--they are seen by them in nearly all they do, in their habitual conduct,and character at home. They are . . . heard in what they say; seen in what they do; studied in all their behavior;by little ears, and eyes, and minds, which are scarcely ever closed!
The child's heart is soft and pliable to a father's or a mother's influence. Their constant influence has been molding him from the dawn of reason.

What, then, ought to be the parents' behavior at home? The whole cultivation, and direction, and management of a child's mind, from the very dawn of reason, should be carried on with special reference to the formation of Christian character. This should be the one thing, to which all other things should be subordination. The silent influence in parental conduct is far greater, either for good or for evil, than most parents are aware of. They teach by what they say, they influence by what they do; and also by what they do not say, and do not perform. The pious parents, who embody a meek, benevolent, ardent, and consistent godliness in their character, exert a tremendous influence over the minds of their children!
But oh! the dreadful contrast in the case of those parents who are characterized by . . . ungodly dispositions, worldly associations, mirthful and extravagant living, trifling conversation, and lack of all seriousness and spirituality. Oh! what can be expected from such parents--but children who regard their religion with disgust? Every man is best known at home. Parents are ever doing something to prejudice their children in favor of true religion--or to prejudice them against it; doing something to draw them into the church--or to drive them into the world; lending a helping hand to lead then to heaven--or taking them by the hand and leading them to hell.Parents! Must you employ your influence in ruining the souls of your children--and sending them to perdition? Oh! tremble at the interview you must have with them at the day of judgment, and the dialog you must hold with them forever in the bottomless pit!!