BUILDING PHENOMENAL FAMILIES (Part 2)
“The Kind of Mother a Child Needs”
Proverbs 22:6; 31:10-31; Exodus 20:12; Isaiah 49:15; Psalm 27:10;
As we celebrate the gift of mothers today, I want to outline just what kind of mother the Lord thinks a child needs.
A child needs a mother who will .....
I. BE WARM TOWARDS THEM
a. A Mother’s Love Protects Her Child.
The king [Solomon] said, "This one says, `My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, `No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’ " Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother" (1 Kings 3:23-27)
Solomon knew that the warmth of a mothers love will always protect her child.
B. A Mother’s Love Provides For Her Child.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls (Pvbs 31:14-15).
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness (Pvbs 31:27).
II. SET WISE BOUNDARIES AROUND THEM
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6).
Dr’s Henry Cloud and John Townsend identify the incredible benefits of setting wise boundaries for you children (“Boundaries” p173ff).
1. Self-protection
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Galatians 5:14)
It’s when kids have learned to love themselves, that they are able to protect themselves from being harmed. Skills like being able to say “no,” being able to walk away, and also telling the truth – these are self-protecting boundaries.
2. Take responsibility for their own needs
Jesus had learned this lesson – right in the middle of a busy time of great ministry he took off in a boat! We’re told that he did this ......
“.... because so many people were coming and going that [he and his disciples] did not even have a chance to eat” (Mark 6:31).
3. Sense of control and choice
4. Accept delayed gratification of goals
A child needs a mother who will teach them the wise boundaries of planning, patience and persistence. Jesus told a parable about this once .....
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30)
5. Respect the limits of other people
A child needs a mother who will teach her child to respect the “yes” or “no” of others - - - - before someone else does!! (And who knows what the consequences will be)
III. WORSHIP BEFORE THEM
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also (2 Timothy 1:5).
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus
(2 Timothy 3:14-15).
THE ONE WHO FOLLOWS ME
A careful mother I ought to be,
A little one is following me.
I do not dare to go astray,
For fear she’ll go the selfsame way.
I cannot once escape her eyes,
Whatever she sees me do, she tries.
Like me she says she’s going to be,
That little one who follows me.
She thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine.
The base in me she must not see,
That little one who follows me.
I must remember as I go
Through summer’s sun and winter’s snow
I am building for the years to be
That little one who follows me.
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