Tract InformationLanguage: English |
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Tract Text
There is nothing to compare with the privilege of bringing precious children into the world and guiding them step-by-step through their developmental years and on toward maturity. Our objective as moms and dads is to transform our sons from “immature and flighty youngsters into honest, caring men who will be respectful of women, loyal and faithful in marriage, keepers of commitments, strong and decisive leaders, good workers, and men who are secure in their masculinity.” It’s a tall order but one that can be achieved with wisdom and guidance from the Father. The primary mechanism by which these goals are realized is the application of confident leadership and discipline at home, tempered with love and compassion. It is an unbeatable combination.
The Ultimate Problem Working against our sons today are the breakup of families, the absence or disengagement of dads, the consequential wounding of spirits, the feminist attack on masculinity, and the postmodern culture that is twisting and warping so many of our children. If there is a common theme that connects each of these sources of difficulty, it is the frantic pace of living that has left too little time or energy for the children who look to us for the fulfillment of every need. It is boys who typically suffer most from the absence of parental care. Why? Because they are more likely to get off course when they are not guided and supervised carefully. They are inherently more volatile and less stable emotionally. They flounder in chaotic, unsupervised, and undisciplined circumstances. Boys are like fast-moving automobiles that need a driver at the steering wheel every moment of the journey.
The Ultimate Priority Your task as a mother or father is to build a man out of the raw materials available implicitly in your delightful little boy. Raising children who have been loaned to us for a brief moment outranks every other responsibility. Besides, living by that priority when kids are small will produce the greatest rewards at maturity. It is not enough simply to be at home and available to our children, however. We must use the opportunities of these few short years to teach them our values and beliefs.
The Ultimate Questions There are several eternal questions every child must deal with eventually. Whether you are an atheist, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, an agnostic, or a Christian, the questions confronting the human family are the same. Only the answers will differ. They are: Who am I as a person? How did I get here? Is there a right or wrong way to believe and act? Is there a God, and if so, what does He expect of me? Is there life after death? How do I achieve eternal life, if it exists? Will I someday be held accountable for the way I have lived on earth? What is the meaning of life and death?
The sad observation is that most of the young people with whom we talk find it difficult to answer questions such as these. No wonder they lack a sense of meaning and purpose.
The Ultimate Answer Meaning in life comes only by answering the eternal questions listed above, and they are adequately addressed only in the Christian faith. No other religion can tell us who we are, how we got here, and where we are going after death. And no other belief system teaches that we are known and loved individually by the God of the universe and by His only Son, Jesus Christ. Timing is critical. Researcher George Barna confirms what we have known—that it becomes progressively more difficult to influence children spiritually as they grow older. If a person does not accept Jesus Christ as Savior before the age of fourteen, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim. The only way you can be with your precious children in the next life is to introduce them to Jesus Christ and His teachings, hopefully when they are young and impressionable. This is Task Number One in child-rearing. Knowing that you led your children to the Lord and will be with them in eternity will outrank every other achievement. My prayers will be with you as you discharge your God-given responsibility. Cherish every moment of it. Dr. James Dobson
The Ultimate Step You can introduce your children to Christ by sitting down with them and explaining the following steps:
1) God loves them, and He wants them to live in peace with Him forever. (Romans 5:1; 6:23; John 3:16)
2) God did not make children like robots, to mindlessly love and obey Him. Instead, He gave them a brain and freedom of choice. But, like Adam, we often choose to disobey and go our own selfish ways. That part of us is called sin, and it pushes us away from God. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Genesis 3:23; Isaiah 59:2)
3) Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin and rose from the grave to give us new life forever. (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 5:24)
4) Now we have a choice. When we trust Jesus Christ to save us and believe in His message, He becomes our Savior. (Acts 10:43; John 14:1; 1:12)
Lead them in a prayer like this: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am sinful and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross as punishment for my sin. I want to turn from my sinful ways and follow You instead. Thank You for loving me so much. Amen.
In Bringing up Boys, Dr. James Dobson, America’s most trusted authority on family issues, tackles questions about raising boys in today’s world and offers advice and encouragement based on a firm foundation of biblical principles. Dr. James Dobson is founder and president of Focus on the Family. He is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Child Development from the University of Southern California and served for 14 years as an associate Clinical Professor at the USC School of Medicine. |