Before motherhood I had plenty of jobs…a barista, dishwasher, tour guide, outreach director. It’s predictable that with every job there is an amount of training that you get before you start. But what about motherhood? When I landed that job, I was in over my head (with little to no training yet a ton of responsibility!)
Prov. 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I believe that training our children in the ways of Jesus is the highest assignment of our lives!
Raising our kids isn’t just about helping them grow up to be good-standing citizens who have good manners and good grades. We want them to understand their kingdom identity! When you understand that, you won’t be swayed by culture, comparison, or what other people think.
But where is the training course for this? How do we actually DO this?
My oldest child is only 10, so most of what I’m about to share is what I’ve learned from other seasoned moms.
First, we have to get in a position of surrender with our children. We are not their Savior. We can NOT save them. Only Jesus can.
Next, we have to look in the mirror, because most of what is taught is caught. Yep. That’s right, mama. Our kids learn most from watching us!
Then there are conversations. If any of you have children like mine, there are A LOT of words happening at any given time. The challenge is to bring God into those conversations, though, as much as possible. Do you point out a sunset and say, “oh pretty!” or do you actually acknowledge the Creator who made it?
“Teach [God’s ways] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).
A lot of spiritual formation is happening within our children – more than we even realize! Aside from the tips I just gave you, you can also dive into some incredible research and information from One Hope that helps parents disciple their kids.
And just for fun, here are two more resources:
- Parent Resources from Substance!
- Prayer Guide from Church of the Highlands
Now, if you have littles, you’re probably thinking, “There is no way I’m going to get my two toddlers to sit down and do any of those activities! Well, maybe try out these audio/technology options:
- Kids Podcasts – “Truth Seekers” or “God’s Big Story”
- The Chosen App – watch episodes of Jesus and His disciples
- Bible App for Kids – interactive and engaging
- Superbook for Kids Bible App – videos, games, audios
- Lumo – youtube – 1-10 min video clips of the gospels word for word
And lastly, you can look at this document Pastor Carolyn put together full of resources both for you and your kids!
Remember, this is a journey of grace as we raise these beautiful humans that God has given to us. Be patient with yourself and with your kids and just let the Holy Spirit guide you.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).
Sarah Legband is the mom of 2 kids and has been married for 18 years! Her parents and her husband’s dad live with them, so their home is filled with everything from legos to iPhones to walking canes. She has been voluntarily leading Substance Moms for the past 7 years, and if she’s not writing a talk for moms group, you’ll find her reading books with her kids, salsa dancing in the kitchen, or binge-watching The Chosen with her husband.