The First Priority of Parenting!
Parenting is a daunting task! How encouraging it is to know that God has all the answers and He wants to enable us to succeed! Of course, the number one priority of every believer is to maintain and nurture his or her relationship with the Lord. You do have a daily time with the Lord in His Word and prayer, don’t you? Nothing can be more important and, without this, what is shared below is powerless and pointless.
Question: what is your number one priority as a parent? Surprisingly, it is to be right as a mate. It has been said, “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” The same can be said of a mother. Parenting is not your number one responsibility in the family unit. Before Paul gave counsel concerning parenting in Ephesians 6, he wrote, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33) Practically, what does this mean?
It means keeping short accounts with your mate. This includes being humble and admitting when you’re wrong, something that is especially hard for men to do.
It means practicing 1 Corinthians 13 toward him/her. Among other things, this includes not keeping a list of your mate’s sins or failures (the meaning of “thinketh no evil”).
It means giving him/her quality time each day. One couple set a policy that, when Dad got home from work, mother got the first 15 minutes with him. That kept the kids getting to Dad first and encouraging him to side with them in a disagreement with their mother. Dad, you may be tired of problems from work and want to just relax, but that may not be God’s plan for your evening.
It means continuing to express affection with words and deeds long after the marriage ceremony. Missed birthdays and anniversaries should not be found in Christian homes. We promote courtship for young people, but we should practice dating as married people!
It means, when necessary, sacrificing your wishes for their best.
It means other things to you that, hopefully, we will share with others personally.
How would you feel if you learned the Trinity wasn’t getting along? Insecure to say the least! Remember, your small children perceive of God as they view you. You owe it to your children, to your spouse, to yourself, most of all to the Lord to freshen your love for that special person who chose you as their lifelong mate!