For most of my life, gardening has been one of my favorite activities – a nice quiet form of exercise and relaxation that has helped provide food for us while getting me outside to enjoy the sunshine. If you’re a gardener and a parent, you’ve probably noticed some similarities between gardening and raising children;
- Plants and children both need lots of loving attention. Tons of time and energy need to be invested in both.
- There’s weeds to take care of in the garden and in our children’s (and our) lives.
- Vegetables and flowers need the right kind of nutrients to help them grow. Our children do, too, both physically and spiritually.
- Pests and diseases threaten the health of the garden. Outside influences, harmful friendships, and plain old self-centered sin threaten our children’s spiritual health.
- Even though we work hard to plant and take care of a garden, God is ultimately the one who brings life out of all those little seeds that go into the ground. The same is true for parenting. We have a job to do and it involves a lot of work. But when all is said and done, God is the one who renews our children’s hearts and brings fruit from our labor.
- And like my first garden with its heavy clay soil, if our children’s hearts are not soft, if they aren’t prepared to receive God’s Word and our instruction, we can teach and correct and discipline, but true, life-changing wisdom won’t take root.
The Bible has a lot to say about raising wise and godly children. In Child-Training Boot Camp 2, we’re going to consider our children’s hearts, not just their actions.
- We’re going to dig into the book of Proverbs and see what sort of soil produces fruit in our children’s lives.
- We’re going to look at the Word to see how we can raise wise children who thrive spiritually, who know how to live in a way that pleases God, and who actually want to please Him.
- We’ll consider some of the weeds and pests that threaten our children’s spiritual growth, and look at the Bible’s remedies.
- While we consider all these aspects of parenting, we’ll also learn how to more effectively study the book of Proverbs.
- In addition, a lesson for the kids will follow every one of your lessons, if you’d like to share what you’re learning with your children.
No need to worry if you haven’t done Child-Training Boot Camp 1. You can still jump right into Boot Camp 2. I hope you’ll join me! We need the wisdom of God’s Word to raise our children for Him!
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Pam,
I had to leave this study last fall, but have about 10 days left of the month and I’d like to finish up this study, but it says that my time is expired. Is there any way to open it back up so I can finish?