Good Advice

Occasionally I hear someone give good advice that is remarkably wise. It is those times that you are driven to give thanks to God for being so gracious in speaking to you through that other person (moral perspicacity is so rare nowadays). In this day and age, however, it is more often the case that I hear people give advice that is so basic and obvious that it saddens me to think that people do not already know it.

Parenting methods today (even among many well-meaning Christians) are largely based on a pagan worldview and focus more on the outward action of the child rather than on his heart. If you do not win the heart, you do not win the child. Let me say it again so that no one misses this vital point: If you do not win the heart, you do not win the child. The problem with much advice today, is that it is so elementary that anyone who really needs it, actually needs much more than that simplistic level of advice.

Here is a link to some basic points that are helpful for parents in how to lead your children. I have to disagree with the description of these habits as "tricks"; they are solid and useful guidelines. I hope that when you read the linked article it sounds as profound as "look both ways before crossing the street". I read them to my family and even my 9 year old said "well, of course". If you are already doing all of these, then great; you are one of the few, and I would love to hear from you so that I can know there are others out there. Yet, if you are not already doing these I beseech you to give each of these points serious consideration and prayer. The fact that they are not coming from a Christian source should make it clear that this is not just an odd sectarian idea. This is how kids are wired, and how parents should take that into account.