Thoughts On ParentingInfancy to Childhood: Training Objectives Howard's son suffered brain damage during infancy. Howard was unsure how much his son could understand. Despite his son's retarded brain development, he talked to him about the ways of God. At 3 1/2, the boy still could not speak. The parents continued to talk to him of God, pray with him and seek to shepherd him biblically. One day, the lad required correction and discipline. Howard was perplexed as he tried to explain, not knowing how much his son could grasp. As he grew frustrated with the communication process, his son intervened. He spoke! His first words were, "Pray, Daddy!" This young child, compromised by brain damage, had been understanding valuable lessons all along. He knew of his father's faith in God. He knew that one turns to God when troubled. He knew that God could help his daddy communicate. What an illustration of the importance of these early years! Save Time - Do It Right The issue in the years of infancy through five years old is submission to authority and it is foundational for the entire parent-child relationship. If your children are young, do it right from the start. Don't let them develop habits of disobedience. Be sure that they learn to obey without challenge, without excuse, without delay. Don't waste time trying to sugarcoat submission to make it palatable. Obeying when you see the sense in it is not submission; it is agreement. Submission necessarily means doing what you do not wish to do. It is never easy or painless. True biblical submission must be found in knowing Christ and his grace. Don't try to make it something that does not require grace. Don't reduce submission to authority to that which fits natural man and natural abilities. Updated on July 10, 2005 |