To the fathers of daughter #2

Craftsman – Coach – Consultant

• Children need a CRAFTSMAN, someone who builds and shapes their life
• Adolescents need a COACH, who guides their energy as they find their own voice and way
• Young adults need a CONSULTANT, who is there to offer cheering and advice as needed

MOLDING and MODELING God’s life in our kid’s means active work to shape their lives, and more of it can be done in their earlier ages. It DOESN’T mean forcing a shape on them, it does mean molding the life already there, and doing it through our example.

How do you shape your child’s life? There are many ways, but I think these are the two primary areas:

• God relationship – you can shape their understanding/appreciation for God
  • Read scripture – we do it at meal time
  • Pray together – we do it before bed
  • Lord’s Day together – Sabbath, worship together
• Self-image – you can shape how your child sees and feels about themselves
  • Communicate with your time and attention that they are valuable and interesting
  • Communicate through your words they are God-shaped, loved, and have what it takes

An example of this is David and Solomon. Yes, the adulterous, murdering, lover of God.

1 Kings 2:1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go [read 1 Chronicles 28: 5-21, 29:19]

David prioritized/leveraged his influence, vision, resources/skills to help his son make the journey. Did this molding shape Solomon? Yes. Imperfect David and Bathsheba molded their son. Solomon passed this wisdom on to his own children…

Proverbs 4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”

to be continued…