Protect your children--and yourself--from getting boiled

Have you noticed how what shocks us at first we hardly notice after awhile?

Call it a demonstration of the "Frog in the Kettle" phenomenon. A frog would never stay in a pot of boiling water--unless the water in the pan started out cold. If you raise the temperature oh, so gradually, the frog will adapt to his or her environment.

It's the same with you, with me and especially with our children

Whatever our surroundings, we learn to adapt. Plunk us among positive people and we become more upbeat. Drop us into a crowd of folks who gripe all the time and we start complaining, too.

Parents create the atmosphere that counts most

Although children gain knowledge and impressions at school, home is where their basic foundation of life is formed. What their parents think matters more than all the rest.

From early on our children absorb our attitudes, right or wrong. If Mom and Dad think life is scary, their kids will, too. If we grumble that nobody treats us fairly or that you can't trust anyone, our daughters and sons accept that as truth. Act as if people around us are good people and our kids will consider the world a friendly place and be optimistic about their chances in it. 

This principle holds no matter what our level of income may be or where we live.

We give our kids a gift--or a handicap--by the atmosphere we create within our family.

 Insulating our darlings

The culture we live in intrudes and colors our thinking, at every age. Television gets blamed most often. What matters even more is how we view it within our families. When something objectionable or untrue is shown, do we let it pass with no comment?

If we do, we just awarded our seal of approval.

It doesn't stop there. Everything from the Internet to conversations with friends and neighbors to what they pick uup in school drips into young minds. Adults can process information through an adult perspective and their experience. Children and teens swallow it whole.

Because we can't be with them 24/7, it's vital to equip them with their own inner guidance system.

• Individuals who clearly understand the difference between right and wrong acquire an internal plumb line and make wiser judgments.
• Kids who can reason and use logic discern untruths more easily.
• Children who pray when they're unsure feel more confident.
• Youngsters who understand that Jesus loves them and watches over them feel less afraid of the dangers (real or imagined) around them.

(By the way, these principles work for adults, too.)

Froggie adapted to his environment and it killed him. What about us?

Whatever we think of the world we live in, most of us don't consider it ideal. Tragic headlines about the rich and famous clearly show what happens when individuals embrace this society without reservation. Most parents and grandparents consider that our worst nightmare.

It's our privilege to be entrusted with rearing our children or to be a grandparent. What we say and do matters more than we think. That's an honor, not a burden. I confess I didn't always recognize that. Maybe you didn't, either.

So we start where we are. If we remember who we are and ask God's help, he will strengthen us and deepen our faith. He will enable us to be the lights and the lifters within our own families.

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me ...    --Psalm 43:3

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.   --Psalm 54:4

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.     --Psalm 29:11

I've found you can trust the Lord. He loves you and your children. He'll fill in your empty spots and be your strength.

God bless you!

Lenore

Comments

[(Name withheld)]

can't be with them 24/7, it's vital to equip them with their own inner guidance system.

Individuals who clearly understand the difference between right and wrong acquire an internal plumb line and make wiser judgments.
Kids who can reason and use logic discern untruths more easily.
Children who pray when they're unsure feel more confident.
Youngsters who understand that Jesus loves them and watches over them feel less afraid of the dangers (real or imagined) around them.
(By the way, these principles work for adults, too.)

Froggie adapted to his environment and it killed him. What about us?

Whatever we think of the world we live in, most of us don't consider it ideal. Tragic headlines about the rich and famous clearly show what happens when individuals embrace this society without reservation. Most parents and grandparents consider that our worst nightmare.