This article compiled by Rogie Hale, Children’s Ministry Leader at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Taylorsville.

One of the great puzzles in my life is when Daddy whips me for smoking a cigarette butt he threw away.  And Mommy sometimes washes my mouth out with soap for saying a word that I learned from her. Ever since I can remember, my parents have taught me not to tell lies, but the other day Mother sent me to the store to tell a salesman that she was gone.  Maybe when we get big and our folks get little, we can enjoy the privilege of telling “whoppers.”  You know, being parents must be fun…but being a kid is tough, with so many restrictions.

Remember that every word spoken before our children & every action observed contribute to the formation of their character.

The Bible has much more to say to parents with children under their roof…
1. Providing the proper atmosphere.  You are responsible to protect their spirit:
“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21)
2. Training for a proper goal.  Disciplining children requires a heart of love:
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”  (Prov. 13:24, 19:18, 22:15, 23:13)
3. Teaching the proper lessons.  Character is caught more than taught:
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”   (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:7)