The best answers to parenting questions come from God. You have to realize your deep need for wisdom, and you have to ASK. Jesus says, “You have not because you ask not.” So ASK. Always ask God for answers.
When the Angel of the Lord (not a typical angel, but likely a vision of the pre-incarnate Christ) tells Samson’s mother that she will have a son who will deliver Israel, she reports it to her husband, Manoah. Manoah immediately prays:
“Please Lord, let the man of God you sent come again to us and teach us what we should do for the boy who will be born.” Judges 13:8.
So that very day, God sent the angel a SECOND time. Then Manoah ran to the angel and asked him:
“When your words come true, what will the boy’s responsibilities and mission be?” Judges 13:12.
What EXCELLENT questions. We should all ask these questions. As young people, you should ask God these questions about yourself—and about your future children. Ask Him to help you understand:
(1) What should you do to prepare yourself?, and
(2) What will your responsibilities and mission be?
As parents, we need to ask these questions about our kids. What would God have us do, not in general, but specifically, for these SPECIFIC children. Every child is different, with different talents, gifts, and callings—and weaknesses. Parents may need to enroll one child in music lessons and another on a sports team. And God can give you those answers. He knows the best way to raise each child—and no two children, not even siblings—have the same needs.
Pray the prayer of Manoah: Dear God show me what to do for myself and for my children. And please help me understand my responsibilities and mission, and that of my children. Give us the wisdom of Manoah, a father humble enough to beg God for insight.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 