The Rich Life

The list of parenting tips really could go on and on.  I just want to give you one more that makes my top 5.  Remember, these tips don’t do you any good without the solid foundation of Jesus.  He really is all in all!

Serve and serve alongside
Jesus gives us the great example of being a servant leader.  He loved his disciples, washed their feet and ultimately died for them.  I believe we need to do the same with our children.  Serve your children out of genuine love and I believe they will become a true servant.  The challenge for many parents is that this is really all they do with their kids.  They love their children into a self-serving pile of goo!  This tool is only useful when it is used along with other parenting tools like follow through (discipling and promises), reading your child and protecting.  Balance really is key in parenting.

To give your kids a bigger picture make it a priority to serve alongside them.  If you don’t serve somewhere on a regular basis (food shelf, meals on wheels, the local church, a needy neighbor, prison ministry, homeless shelter . . .), start today!  As follower’s of Jesus this is at the core of who we are.  We were created to love God and love people – especially the least of these.  How cool would it be to take your kids with you and teach them how truly purposeful their life can be from the very beginning.

Serve your children and serve alongside them.  Open their eyes to the joy of glorifying God by using their gifts to love others.  Life can be so rich!