February 5 - Kindness in Your Home

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

 

Don’t let kindness leave you. Especially true in the home where children learn skills of getting along with others. Parents should be diligent about training their children to learn about right and wrong. When children complain (ugh, it is actually whining!) to the parents about their siblings here are some pointers in settling the dispute:

1.      Ask if the child if they’ve talked to their sibling about it. See the scripture in Matthew 18:15-16: If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. Children will feel better about their relationships if they know that they have to discuss disputes with the sibling involved before going to their parents.

2.      Teach them to express their feelings—“I don’t like it when you push me… hurts.” A child’s self-worth increases when they know that their siblings, and others, take their feelings seriously.

3.      Once the kids discussed the dispute and if they can’t settle it, then they bring it to the parents to judge the issue. Be guided by these scriptures. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy….Proverbs 31:9. Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. John 7:24

4.      Remember: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1. Be a good example to your children. They learn most from just watching you…how you handle misunderstandings in your own life.

One goal in parenting is to teach our children…the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5. This is best done by helping the kids to maintain healthy relations with siblings, parents, other family members and friends. Healthy relationships are not burdened by guilt, bitterness, power struggles or regrets.

Training Tip – Intentionally teach your children about how to handle disagreements—before they happen. Share the scripture with them and have them role play examples of arguments so that when disputes happen, they know what to do.

Lord – May______(my child or grandchild) be willing to forgive as You said…not up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Give us all wisdom on how to handle disagreements with kindness.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.