Thankful Tuesday

Cindy at Dominion Family has been posting advice from older mothers to younger mothers. The series is very good and the comments are well worth reading.

I was thinking about it this morning and realized that I am thankful for the good parenting resources that are available. Our #1 choice is Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp. One of our Sunday School classes is going through the video series and I am reminded again of how valuable the information is.

Pastor Tripp doesn't just focus on external behaviours (do this or that and your child will behave perfectly). Instead, he takes us to the Bible and shows how the hearts of our children should be our focus, rather than their behaviour. When their hearts are right with God, their behaviour will follow.

Over the years, we personally have found that this type of discipline and training leads not only to obedient children but children who want to follow God. Our parenting journey isn't over, by any stretch, but at this point, we are trusting that our children will continue on the path they have started with God.

I have also appreciated various messages and workshops put out by Sovereign Grace Ministries. Covenant Life church has a "Family Room" section and the messages linked through that have been excellent as well.

As parents, we do need to be careful to sift through all the resources available and make sure that what we are reading and studying lines up with Scripture. More specifically, the resources need to always point parents and children to the gospel of Christ. It is only through the grace of God that any of us are able to stand; this applies to parenting just as much to any other aspect of our lives.