Todd Marinovich has been called America’s first “test-tube athlete”. His dad Marv rigorously oversaw his nutritional habits and physical conditioning while grooming him to be a star quarterback. From being a Parade-All American in high school to being an All-Pac 10 quarterback at USC to being a first round draft choice by the Los Angeles Raiders, Todd seemed to be headed toward the NFL Hall of Fame.
Only three years into his NFL career Todd crashed, failing drug test after drug test. Now 50, Todd has been in and out of treatment his entire life. With his dad now silenced by Alzheimer’s, you can’t help but wonder what might have been if Todd had been raised in a godly home.
Four Instructions in Raising Kids:
Create A
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” —Ephesians 6:1
Culture is defined as “a way of doing things; your values and lifestyle”.
How do you create a godly culture in your home?
Family Shift by Rodney & Michelle Gage is subtitled: The 5-Step Plan to Stop Drifting and Start Living with Greater Intention. We can overcome drift (D=disappointment; R=regret; I=isolation; F=frustration; T=tension) by a family shift (S=start with the end in mind; H=hold to core values; I=identify your goals; F=find life-giving friendships; T=teach by example).
What is your mission and vision as a family? What statement encapsulates your hopes and dreams for your family?
Teach
“Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” —Ephesians 6:1
To honor means “to value highly and hold in the highest regard.”
Honoring your parents sets a pattern of honoring all other authorities in your life. If you do that God promises both quality of life and quantity of life.
If we wish to teach our children about respect, we have to model it in our homes by respecting our government officials, employers, school officials, law enforcement, and church leaders (I Timothy 2:1-4; Hebrews 13:17).
Don’t
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” —Ephesians 6:4
In the Roman world, the father held the power of life and death over his whole household. God desires fathers to be tender and sensitive to their kids.
Harvard sociologists Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck identified four primary factors in keeping a child from rebelling:
1) fair discipline by the father
2) generous nurturing by the mother
3) demonstrable love between mom and dad
4) time together as a family
Neglecting any of these factors will tend to arouse resentment among children.
Show Them
“…instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” —Ephesians 6:4
This is more than a systematic teaching of biblical truth. Show them Jesus who said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” —John 14:6
Interactive Bible stories at bedtime along with teaching them how to pray is foundational. Prayer at meals and before school is critical.
Help your kids choose wise friends.
“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” —Proverbs 13:20
By choosing friends who are tough, loyal and committed they develop discernment in choosing a godly mate.
CBS’s Charles Kuralt visited Alex and Mary Chandler as they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1979. Even though they were poor sharecroppers in Mississippi, they raised nine children who all graduated from college. Their home was built on four cornerstones with faith first, then education, family, and thankfulness. What kind of home are you building?