What is a fool? Google dictionary says it is “A person who acts unwisely, unprudently; a silly person”
To fool someone is “to trick or deceive (someone); dupe”
Parents, I want all of us to be wise not fools this April 1st. Let us not be deceived. Our influences are huge in our children’s lives and the enemy is trying to put anything he can in the way of us influencing our children for God’s glory and their salvation and freedom.
We are fools when we abdicate our roles as our children’s evangelists and primary spiritual teachers. God has given us that role and we are responsible to be diligent in training our children. Let’s not just drop our children off at Sunday school and expect the volunteers to teach our children everything they need to know about God, His love, and His expectations of us. Let’s work as a team with them, follow up with what is taught at church, and continue the intentional spiritual discipleship at home.
We are fools when we let our children learn things the hard way because we are ashamed to let them learn from our mistakes. We must be appropriate and share things at the right time, but we must be honest and teach our children from what we have learned so they don’t have to repeat our mistakes. May we make a priority on prevention ministry to our young children instead of expecting to have a restorative ministry when our children are older. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and we can trust Him to give our children what they need through us. God chose us (in all our failings and sinfulness) to be our children’s parents. He did that on purpose. You are not accidentally your children’s mom or dad. You aren’t the second choice for who God wanted to raise these children. He chose YOU.
So, sisters and brothers. Let us not be fools. Let us not be tricked into thinking someone else can raise our children better than we can. Keep learning, keep teaching, and keep living the way you want your children to live. Be intentional. Be wise, not foolish.
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Proverbs 9:9
What is the next step you need to take in intentionally discipling and leading your children?
