Bishop's Blog

The Scriptures teach that children are God’s inheritance. Some children are defined as “good” while others may seem to be “bad.” The truth is, that there is really no such thing as a bad child. It’s really just ineffective parenting methods. Children only do what they are permitted to do. Parenting is more than just discipline. It involves specific prayer, spending time with your children, and doing your best to be the example you want them to follow. Most parents do the best job they can with the information that they have and for many, the information they have is insufficient.

If you feel that your child is out of control, start with prayer. Many times we try to deal with problems before seeking the Problem Solver. Some issues with your children are spiritual and you need the power and wisdom of God to help you. Sometimes more discipline won’t do it. After you’ve prayed and sought God for a strategy, talk with your child. Remember, you are the parent, not them. Children don’t need more friends, they need land frankly crave leaders that will give them guidance and instruction.

Get involved in what your children are doing. Know who their friends are. Remove reasons for them not to do well because most often, children respond to their environments. Don’t be afraid to let them learn. Sometimes parents enable their children to do wrong because they never let them experience the consequences of their choices. This doesn’t help them, this hurts them. Sometimes they need detention and not their parent calling the school and being angry with the teachers.

Talk to your children and also pray with them. If you train them in the ways of God, they may try to run, but at some point when they grow older they will not depart from what you taught. 

If your child is exhibiting violence, take it seriously. Out of control children are normally angry about something. Help them to find out what that is and to release it. Many times young men are angry with their fathers and so they get involved with groups that make them feel accepted and things that seemingly affirm their masculinity. This includes gangs and the wrong circles of people.

Young women sometimes are angry at their feeling of rejection and that’s why it’s important that their mothers love them and affirm them and that fathers treat them how they should expect for other young men to treat them. Young women seek men they are comfortable with and for most, they are comfortable with what they saw in their fathers. If there is no father present, young women may jump from man to man and relationship to relationship to try to find what it is that they are comfortable with

Just a few thoughts…