Personal Reflective Essay: Biblical Parenting

In Deuteronomy, the nation of Israel is commanded to teach their children the things that they have been told. Proverbs says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it”. In Paul’s letters to Timothy, Paul speaks of a faith that he saw in Timothy’s mother and grandmother, and Paul admires the fact that the faith has been passed down. Throughout scripture, there is an emphasis on passing down truth to a new generation, and each generation will have the same task of being a stepping stone or stumbling block for the next. Discipling can take place through several outlets; however, the most influential is undoubtedly the parents. What follows is a personal reflection on the direct influence and shaping of my faith as a result of my family. My parents showed me what Biblical parenting looks for the average family. They worked normal jobs. My dad was a banker. My mom worked in a hospital. This didn’t change their faith though. I was blessed to see how faith can be incorporated into everyday life. They showed me what gifts look like when not used in a church setting. For example, my dad is extremely gifted with financial knowledge and is very creative. He has a gift for thinking outside the box and finding alternative solutions. Making the most of this God given ability, my dad has been able to invest in people who are struggling financially and help them get back on their feet. He knows how to not only deal with them economically, he knows how to set them up for success. This is just a small example of their modeling of the faith. My parents were able to show me that my gifts were meant for a much broader use than just the church. Because of this, I have very broad view of what is sacred. While yes, Sunday morning is a sacred time, I believe that there is just as much joy in God when He sees his children using his or her gifts to bless others. Contrary to the parents of many of my friends growing up, my parents didn’t expect results from me. They expected my best. Looking back, I cannot express how thankful I am for this. They weren’t just being “gentle” parents, they were shaping my value and self-worth. They spoke the same value over me that my heavenly Father had already spoken over me in scripture. My parents refused to let my value be determined by what I could do. Biblically, I can never do anything of eternal value on my own anyways. Little did I know, that my parents philosophy on school would lay the foundation for my dependence on God. However, when I say that my parents expected my best, I mean it. They didn’t let me quit. If I started something, I had to finish it. If things were difficult, my dad’s famous response was, “figure it out”. Growing up, those three words enraged me; nevertheless, they taught me how to solve problems and never give up. Those words made me strong, and they taught me that things don’t always have to be perfect. It’s ok to tough it out for a little bit. My parents also taught …show more content…
They always filtered everything through scripture. People always mattered more than prestige to my family. I was taught that if I had to lose to do the right thing, I would lose but represent Christ. When I was younger this concept was frustrating due to the fact that I am competitive by nature, but as I matured, the values began to settle into place and I was grateful for their stance. Finally, one of the greatest lessons that I learned from my parents was the importance of the church. They never let me struggle alone. They would always meet me where I fell short. While some might argue that this is just caring parenting, I believe it was something so much more. Especially in spiritual matters, rather than condemn me for not being enough, they met me in my weakness to help make me the best I can be. This same principle is one that must be applied to our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. This is the point of community in the