What is the difference between good parents and great parents? What are some of the secrets to successful parenting?
My number one tip for being a great parent is to spend time with your children. This does not mean that stay-at-home moms have all the answers! In fact many, or most, stay-at-home moms still find things to busy themselves that take away from their time with their children. They're present, but they may as well not be.
Great parents are not just with their children, they are involved in their children's lives. They are carefully observing their children so that they truly KNOW them. They are prayerfully thinking about their children so that God can reveal hidden parts of their children's character to them. Then they can parent intentionally and with confidence.
A successful parent understands the value of what they are doing. They are focussed on loving and moulding their little one's into sharp arrows for God to use. Their minds are not forever wondering what they could be doing "if only" they didn't have children.
Great parents know how to "number their days" with their children. They are acutely aware of how short the time is that they have with their children. They know that they need to train their children with a future goal in mind. They understand the purpose of their parenting.
Successful parenting means following through with consistent parenting - consistent discipline, consistent routines. It means having the will power to be consistent so that our children are always moving forward and not having to relearn the same lessons again and again because we keep allowing them to slip back into bad habits. It means being present in their lives to be constantly training them and coaching in them in what is right and wrong, in applying biblical truths to their little lives, in reminding them of their manners and their values.
It means giving them wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the word of God and knowing how to apply it in each unique situation. It is something that is trained over years - best done by a mother while the child is still "at her knee" or by a father who is intentionally present in his child's life. Well, actually BEST done by both!
Getting the most out of your children includes raising your expectations. You need to know your children, each of them individually, to know what is the best that you can expect of them, and then ask for that.Great parents see loving their children as an act of worship to God. They see it is something that deserves their all and their best not just for the sake of their children, but for the sake of a God from whom they want to hold nothing back!
Let it be said that our children found their joy at home, with their parents and with God. Laugh and enjoy the gift that parenting is. Like in any job, we can only do our best when we're having fun!
And how are all these things possible? Honestly, the ONLY way that I know of, is be constantly asking God for a bigger portion of His grace, for a more complete taking over of your will by His Spirit. We need to be on our knees, hungry for our daily bread, desperate for today's portion of wisdom and grace, and constantly growing in our knowledge of Him. In Him is everything we need for life and godliness, and for successful parenting!
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