Teaching Children Obedience

It's 4:30 in the afternoon when I am saying to my 10 year old son. "I'm sorry, Son, but you cannot ride your bicycle this afternoon. You know the rule. The bicycle is to be placed in the storage shed every night. If you leave it out, then you do not get to ride the following day. Last night you left it out all night; therefore, you cannot ride the bike this afternoon."

Am I being harsh to my son? No, I'm loving my son. Life is filled with rules and when we break them, we suffer the consequences. It is a lesson if learned early that may keep him from greater pain as an adult. "Children obey your parents, in the Lord for this is right." It is a fundamental principle of parenting. Make wise rules and have logical consequences. Be loving but consistent, and your children will be the benefactors.

Every society has rules. In a healthy society, rules are designed for the benefit of the whole and everyone reaps the benefits.

The same principles are true in family life. Mom and Dad have the responsibility to decide rules that are for the benefit of the children. Good rules which are lovingly enforced teach children obedience. Bad rules that are harshly enforced create angry children. Perhaps its time to evaluate your rules, and the manner in which you enforce them.

Are you having trouble teaching your child obedience? Stay tuned for next week's "A Love Language Minute."



Adapted from The Family You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.