How to Parent With Love and Grace

Parenting is an extremely important job and requires a plan to get your child from birth to adulthood. Dr. Tim Kimmel, founder of Family Matters ministry and author of ̶0;Grace Based Parenting,̶1; writes that parents need to exercise love and grace to rear children most securely and effectively. The act of parenting with grace and love uses Jesus as a role model for parents. Parenting with love and grace focuses on kids̵7; three basic needs as the parenting foundation and adds four freedoms that give kids what they need to become strong, Christian adults.

Things You'll Need

  • Bible

Instructions

    • 1

      Bring your children up in faith from the earliest days. In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Moses tells the Hebrews that they should love God first with everything they have and love others as they love themselves. Moses admonishes parents to take time to diligently teach these ideas to their children during ordinary activities such as walking or sitting and talking. In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus identifies these two commandments as the greatest ones. Apply these commandments to the way you parent by honoring God and treating others with respect. Your example will impart this to your children.

    • 2

      Love your child unconditionally. Let your child know that there is nothing he can do that will cause you to stop loving him, even if you don̵7;t like what he̵7;s doing. Apply the lesson of the Prodigal Son, knowing that sometimes you have to let your child make poor choices to learn a powerful lesson. Support and keep your child safe and accept the child with open arms when the child admits that he was wrong and asks for forgiveness.

    • 3

      Apply forgiveness, mercy and gentleness when you must correct your child. That doesn̵7;t mean to disregard sins -- willful disobedience. Allow natural consequences to dictate your response, such as making the child return a stolen item, explaining the loss of trust when she lies or refusing to listen to disrespectful words until she speaks in a more respectful and honoring tone. Forgive a mistake instead of punishing the child for it, and allow for age-appropriate behaviors such as toddlers digging in unlocked cupboards or tearing a book page.

    • 4

      Accept that God could call your child to walk a different path than the one you thought he would take. Give your child the freedom to be different, vulnerable and candid, admonishes Dr. Kimmel. Allow your child to make choices about his purpose and how that shows up in his life. Train your child according to his personality and the way he needs and expresses love.

    • 5

      Impart strong character in your child through your example and direct input and instruction. Stress the traits of faith, integrity, poise, self-discipline, endurance and courage. Teach these with Bible stories and other illustrations that make the value of these traits clear.

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