By Roxanne Drury
“Impress these commandments on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7
Parenting may be the hardest job you will ever have. Just sayin’! If your parenting days are ahead of you, get ready for the ride of your life. If your children are all home, God bless you and give you wisdom. If your children are all grown and out of the home, newsflash: you are not out of the woods yet. Grandparenting is a tad more fun, but it holds some of the same responsibilities.
The ultimate goal is to raise children who become responsible adults capable of taking care of themselves and others. Every day they are in your home is an opportunity to teach them something, whether they are 2, 22, or 52. We can and should teach our children everything, from how to brush their teeth and tie their shoes to how to buy their first home and plan for their retirement. However, teaching our children how to live life in the world is just one part of parenthood and grandparenthood.
What about teaching our children how to live a good, healthy spiritual life following the Lord? We must ask ourselves:
• “As a parent, have I taught my children about God, His ways, and His Word?”
• “Am I passing on my faith?”
Deuteronomy 6:7 is a reminder to do just that. Teaching children to pray and to love and live by God’s Word is fundamental to their living a good life and foundational for their spiritual life and growth. Their moral compass is shaped as they learn to live according to the truths in the Bible, as well as by what they observe in your life. This is a crucial part of parenting and grandparenting and one we cannot overlook.
Scripture not only urges us to impress God’s commands on our children but also to discuss them frequently. This verse is very clear on that point. When you sit at home or walk along the road, talk about things related to God. When you lie your child down to sleep and wake them up in the morning, pray and discuss God things.
As a preschool teacher, one of my most cherished and honored moments was when a student raised his hand and asked me, “Mrs. Drury, why do you talk about God so much?” My prayer for every home is that your children will want to know and come to understand why you all talk about God so often.
Talking about God helps your children understand who He is and demonstrates that He is a priority in your life and home. Opening God’s Word with your children shows how it is a valuable tool for learning how to live in a way that pleases Him. And bonus: the Bible stories are full of heroes who honored and trusted God. There is more action in the Bible than in any TV movie.
I think I know what you may be thinking. What in the world would we talk about? Following are five ideas to get you started on leaving a legacy of faith:
1. You can start with simple statements. On a walk: God made the trees, the flowers, and the birds in the sky, which He also created. Camping: God made the stars. Did you know the sun is a
star? When God created everything, He placed it right in the middle of the solar system. A child tells a lie: Uh oh, let’s see what the Bible says about lying. Read Proverbs 12:22.
2. Start praying with your children at least once a day. Examples include before a mealtime, bedtime, or school. Increase this as much as possible. Add to it when a child is hurt or sick.
3. Begin reading the Bible with your children at bedtime.
4. Start incorporating weekly family devotions into your home. For ideas, scripts, and how-tos, visit my website at: https://roxannedrury.com/family-devotions. Discount Code: 52WEEKSFAM
5. Make sure to find out what Bible lesson your child learned in church and talk about it or read the story at home.
I encourage you to start taking action now to become a Deuteronomy 6:7 parent or grandparent. You will be helping to shape the lives of your children and grandchildren, for now and in their future, by leaving a legacy of faith in your home.
Roxanne Drury is a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Christian preschool teacher who served the Lord in children’s ministry for over 45 years. She has written a group study guide on Psalm 23, as well as other books. She may be reached at glorylandbooks@gmail.com.
