Have you
ever given much thought to the world in which our children live? They are under authority all day long! Do this!
Don’t do that! They are
constantly to be in subjection to you, Mom and Dad; and, on occasion, they are
not only going to disagree with you, they are going to disobey you. Thus the
stage is now set for a clashing of the
wills. These clashes are not always
necessary. Some of them, if not most of
them, could easily be avoided by applying a few simple principles. These principles also apply to an adult’s
relationship with other adults.
1. Be
easily pleased. Children automatically
put up their defenses when they know that a parent is seldom pleased with what
they do. Let your children know when
they please you. (Mark 1:11)
2. Do
not be argumentative. DO NOT put
yourself in a position of arguing with your child. If children know you will argue with them,
you have set the stage for a clash of the wills. Remember, you are the parent; they are the
child. Arguing is not allowed. (Ecclesiastes 10:12)
3. Major
on the majors; minor on the minors. Keep
things in perspective. Do not make major
issues out of non-essential ones.
(Matthew 23:24)
4. Avoid
criticism. When correcting your child,
criticism is certainly not necessary.
When you criticize, you are building resentment instead of respect…and
again, you are setting the stage for a clash of the wills. (Ephesians 6:4)
5. Set
the right example. If you have a
tendency to clash wills with those over you, then you are setting the wrong
example for your children. (Galatians
6:7)
✞ Apply the above principles.
