FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

[Proverbs 20:11; 22:6]; Proverbs 20:7; 6:20-23; Proverbs 1:8; 10:1; 29:15-17; Proverbs 10:13; 13:24; 22:15; 23:13, 14; 14:26; 8:32; 31:28; 23-22-26; [I Timothy 4:8]

A promise from God’s Word is that when we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Training means specific, repeated instruction. It is repetitive until we make the mark so the child understands. Often people confuse training with entertaining. It is not our responsibility to entertain our children. We are to train them so they become men and women for God. Every human being aspires to greatness. Women can be great women for God, great wives and mothers.

What is a mother? A mother is a teacher, counselor, trainer and friend. She comforts the hurting heart; she encourages the downtrodden spirit; she chastens foolish behavior and compliments that which is admirable. She is an accountant, purchasing agent, housekeeper, taxi driver, nurse, coach, and chef. Of all the things a mother provides in caring for her children, the most important is to teach and train her child how to live Godly! She is to teach them how to love God, have a hunger to study the Word and be desirous to pray daily.

The father is to be the spiritual example as the head of the household, but the woman is the guardian of the home. In many ways, it is she who implements practically the teaching and the training.

Mothers carry the burden of befriending their children. They have the responsibility of teaching and training their children at home. This entails loving, cherishing, disciplining, guiding and directing them. God-fearing mothers are the hub of strong families, and we give them praise! A healthy family is not something that happens by accident, but is the result of deliberate choices. A father gives instruction and the mother trains and upholds the standards.

God’s Word says foolishness is bound in the heart of children. They are naturally rebellious, whimpering and disobedient. This is why we start early to discipline them. Part of that discipline requires the rod of correction. Mothers can be too softhearted and not want their children to “hate” them by disciplining them with the rod. Yet Proverbs 29:15 says a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. Proverbs also instructs us that the person who spares the rod hates the child, but he that loves his child chastens him many times. It takes consistent effort to train a child so the foolishness is replaced with Godly behavior.

Children need the “P’s of Christian Parenting.” They include “principles, pattern, persistence, praise, participation, play, planning, patience and priority.”

We only have one opportunity to train our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Wise investments in our children are worth every bit of effort. We praise our mothers for their faithfulness in training their children in the ways of the Lord.