Disciple Your Children Intentionally, Making a Timeless Investment

Disciple Your Children Intentionally, Making a Timeless Investment

You don't need to be a perfect Christian to disciple your teens.

Nobody's perfect, even and especially Christians.  And you don't need to be a perfect Christian in discipling your teens and it doesn't require you to be perfect either in helping your teen to become an authentic follower of Jesus Christ.

It can and should be a natural, caring, and even fun experience!

This means that in leading your teens to become mature in their Christian life, it doesn't have to become a form of torture.  If in the process it feels like a straitjacket, a knife fight, or a migraine, there is something wrong.  Being a spiritual mentor to your teenager can and should be a natural, caring, even fun experience that benefits both you and your child - for eternity.

But you will need to be intentional about it!

Because in this world where we live in, nothing happen by accident or by chance.  Even our Great God is an "intentional" God.  His intentions and motives are for our own best.

The same is also true in discipling our teens.  We need to be intentional, and anything as somber-sounding as "intentional discipling" has to be hard and unpleasant, doesn't it?

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Treat Each Child Accordingly

We have three kids and we expect three different attitudes from each one.  For we know for sure that God created each individual unique, no two different people are exactly alike, even twins! 

So, from our eldest, the middle child and the youngest, we treat them differently and accordingly.  Of course, I emphasize that the love we have for the three of them is the same.  But the treatment would be different at times.  As of this moment, we are still on the process of evaluating each of our child's characteristics, attitudes, interests, moods, skills, favorites and a lot more things to consider.

With this, we could really say we need a lot of patience and much, much lot of grace from the Lord. 

One of the important things to do that I've learned from one of my trusted mentors is that to bless each one of my kids especially when they are already asleep.  Bless them the way our forefathers of old bless their children.  We should really avoid using words that discourage or in a way "curse" our children.  We must remember the "power of words".  Because through this, I believed that it has a great impact on the way our kids will grow.   Besides, people (and even our children) really behave (and grow) the way you expect them to be.

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The Closer, The More Painful

The closer we get with our relationship with our children can also be more painful to us not just physically but also emotionally.

I would say physical pain, for instance, there was a time when we were playing "tickles" with our children we cannot avoid the physical contact that will cause us harm sometimes when we "overplayed".

Many times also when the children would try to be loving towards us like they want to sit on the lap or straddle on the back or above my shoulders, of course, you would know what I mean if you already experienced those happy moments with your kids.

We oftentimes get too attached with our children that we thought and wish they stay as cute as they are, but life in reality is not like that.  They really have to grow physically and emotionally.  Time will come they will have their own career, their own family, their own life to live.

Although it will hurt us physically and emotionally if we get closer with our children, still it is the best thing to do: to develop deeper relationship with them, to become their "best friend" in life so that whatever questions they have in life, though we don't have all the answers, they are confident to approach us that we could guide them in the right track of making good decisions, if not the best decisions they will ever have to make.

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Your Child is Your Best Friend

Your child should be your best friend and the feeling should be mutual with your child.

Building a friendly relationship with your child is a lifetime process.  And this process begins early when your child is still in your womb (as a mother) or in your spouse womb (as a father).

Make it a top priority that you really build a lasting relationship with your kids especially as they grow.

One way to do this is that you should remind your kids that you are their best friend.  A place you should both enjoy together is your home not in the neighborhood.  Although building relationship with neighbors is also encourage.

Whatever happens in their life, they can be sure that you will always be by their side.  Whatever questions they might have, although you don't have all the answers, you are there to listen to them.  And whenever they feel discouraged, be an encourager to them.  Do whatever it takes to build confidence in your kids and to make your relationship stronger.

Here is an article I would like to share with you from an anonymous author:

My Friend

My friend, I stand in judgment now,

And I feel that you're to blame somehow.

On earth I walked with you day by day,

And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory

But never did you tell the story,

My knowledge then was very dim;

You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together here on earth,

You never told me of the second birth,

And now I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things that's true;

I called you friend and I trusted you,

But I learn now, that it's too late,

And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day, and talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the light;

You let me live and love and die,

You knew I'd never live on high.

Yes, I called you "friend" in life

And trusted you through fun and strife.

And yet, on coming to this dreadful end,

I cannot, now, call you "my friend".

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