Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ask anyone what they would consider the toughest jobs on planet earth and you would get a long list of a variety of rugged occupations. Ask them where they would place parenting and most would agree that it tops the list. No calling carries the responsibility and is more demanding than that of being a good parent.
Parenting is an on-the-job, never-ending training that requires hands-on experience and a 24/7/365 daily attention. Ask any parent that has changed a baby and they will tell you, parenting requires a strong stomach.
Nonetheless, parenting is the biggest honor ever bestowed on a person by God. Thus the Bible addresses the requirements of a person to be a good parent. Near the top of the list is one big don't and one big do!
The don't is simple. Don't be passive!
Passiveness is to be indifferent, unconcerned, apathetic to the child and his or her needs. Passive is unloving. Passiveness leaves the child without guidance, instruction, and discipline. When a parent is indifferent to a child, they teach a disregard for life and God. The child is detached from love and has no assurance of protection or acceptance.
This kind of hands-on-proactive parenting requires the help of the Holy Spirit, and parents willing to observe the teaching of the Bible -- and much prayer.
The following Bible verses will reinforce this article and will be helpful to parents.
Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 3:12; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21; Psalms 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 29:17
These quotations and blog articles may be helpful
