Thursday #2 Devotion

Proverbs 19:20--Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that
thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

I have taught my children that one of Mommy's jobs is to teach them
how to make right choices. It is a gift I can give my children, a legacy
I can leave with them. If I can accomplish that through their life in our
home, then they will be at an advantage when they are launched into
the "real world." If they learn to truly follow after what is right,
then I have given them the ability to succeed in this earth. It is the
whole "teach a man to fish" reality.

I have only a few years of their lives when they daily in our home.
We do not home school, so my children will soon be leaving my side and
will be in the presence of someone else for the majority of their waking
hours during each school day. It is my responsibility now to reveal to
them the issues of life. I have to teach them to be able to discern good
and evil when I am not around. I have to help them learn how to run from
evil and cling to good.

I spend time daily listening to the instruction of God through the reading of
the Bible, praying, praising, and fellowshipping with the Father. I then invest time
and situations into my children to give them the chance to exercise the functioning
of righteous principles. When I witness a situation arising in the moments of our day that
demonstrates good vs. evil, I stop the functioning of our home and focus on helping
my children evaluate these moments. We may sit in the middle of our living room
and discuss why biting or hitting can not solve possessiveness. We may go into the
fridge to discuss gluttony. We may prance around the house in silly clothes to discuss
the importance of modesty. The point is, my children are learning that the concept of
discerning righteousness is one that takes time, energy, attention, and devotion to learning.

God's guidance and wisdom are available and abundant enough to help me show my
children how to choose what is right. God's mercy working through me will help teach
them how to run to God to fix mistakes and restore fellowship. And God's ability flowing
out of me will help them understand the benefits of following the paths of righteousness.
Our children will have enough times to see the temptation of sinfulness. Let's let our
homes be a refuge of righteousness and a place where they can learn the appeal of right
choices and their blessings.

Work hard and patiently to help your children process situations. Point out the right
choices they make and applaud those choices. With compassion and tender hearts, walk
them through improper behavior by pointing them to God and assisting them in prayer
for His forgiveness and yours. We are our children's gauge of righteousness when they are young.
They will learn to survey the world through how we have taught them to judge
what is right and how to make proper choices. That is why we must daily allow God to
work through us in our relationship with our children.

Confession: The greatest gift I can my children is to truly teach
them how to be righteous. God, through me, will teach my
children how to cling to what is right and run from what is evil.