{"id":4125,"date":"2018-10-29T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=4125"},"modified":"2019-03-14T14:34:16","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T19:34:16","slug":"whats-spiritual-about-parenting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/10\/29\/whats-spiritual-about-parenting\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Spiritual about Parenting?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Michelle Anthony<\/p>\n<p>Parenting is a commitment of epic proportions!\u00a0 As parents, we spend our days accomplishing a vast list of important\u2026and not so important things.\u00a0 They are time consuming and taxing!<\/p>\n<p>Consider the sheer volume of resources available to help parents in their duties.\u00a0 There are books that deal with ADD, bedtime, discipline, defiance, curfew, complaining, bed-wetting, biting, finances, friends, fighting in the car (an entire book on automobile arguments!), manners, media, potty training\u2026you name it!<\/p>\n<p>Someone once said that, \u201cIn raising children, the days are long, but the years are short\u201d.\u00a0 As a young mom, I wondered, \u201cWill I make it through this day alive and sane?\u201d and yet now as an empty-nester, I can\u2019t help but wonder how it all happened so fast!<\/p>\n<p>Although the necessary duties fill our days, there is something spiritual about our parenting that often gets lost in the mundane.\u00a0 How can parents capture a glimpse of eternity in the midst of the ordinary and not simply spend their hours, but rather invest their days?<\/p>\n<p>Consider these seven strategies that can turn the routine duties of parenting into a life that has a spiritual perspective:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Abandon the idea of perfect parenting<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>When you fail, ask for forgiveness. This models how your children should respond when they fail.<\/li>\n<li>Dismiss the urge to impress everyone\u2026including yourself!<\/li>\n<li>Set realistic goals and communicate them to your family members.<\/li>\n<li>Resist the \u201cSuper-Parent\u201d lie\u2026and ask for help!<\/li>\n<li>Living an honest and authentic life before your child will nurture a compelling relationship with you in the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Focus on the heart of your child\u2026not just the behavior<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize that there is often \u201csomething more\u201d below the surface of the misbehavior. Take the time to discover what it might be.<\/li>\n<li>When handing out discipline make sure that natural consequences are maximized\u2026they have the greatest long-term impact.<\/li>\n<li>Eliminate shame and guilt to motivate your child toward a certain behavior\u2026they ultimately destroy the soul.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Determine to worry less and pray more<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize that worry is an energy zapper!<\/li>\n<li>Set aside time each day for a few minutes of quiet reflection in God\u2019s Word and time in prayer.<\/li>\n<li>When a difficult situation arises, ask God for wisdom and strength before acting.<\/li>\n<li>Write out prayers or verses and place them around your home for encouragement.<\/li>\n<li>Pray with and for your child.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Talk with (not at) your child everyday<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Look at your child in the eyes when speaking.<\/li>\n<li>Listen with generosity to the things that are important to your child.<\/li>\n<li>Be aware of what is not being said. Ask questions that will allow your child to share his\/her heart.<\/li>\n<li>Take time each day to focus on your child, uninterrupted by media or technology. This communicates their value to you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be involved with like-minded parents<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Get involved in a local church (most have parent groups and programs).<\/li>\n<li>Meet neighbors with your same values to create play groups or outings.<\/li>\n<li>Take time for yourself to have \u201cadult conversations\u201d\u2026guilt free!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Give your child a strong sense of identity<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Speak positive words to your child while identifying them (for example: \u201cHe is a good listener\u201d rather than \u201cHe is shy\u201d or \u201cShe is creative and expressive\u201d rather than \u201cShe\u2019s not really into sports\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Tell your child stories of your family\u2019s history and heritage.<\/li>\n<li>Share your faith journey with your child.<\/li>\n<li>Offer words of \u201cblessing\u201d to your child at meals and before dropping him\/her off at sporting events or school.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create opportunities for your child to serve others<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Allow your child to be exposed to the needs in your community.<\/li>\n<li>Help your child to determine his\/her gifts and how he\/she might put those into action for the sake of someone else.<\/li>\n<li>Give opportunities for your child to set aside money or belongings for those in need.<\/li>\n<li>Make a meal for a new mom or an elderly person and deliver it together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Start today, putting these things into practice! At the end of the day, you may still feel exhausted as you drop into bed, but you will know that you have invested in what really matters most\u2026approaching your child with a spiritual mindset that honors God and builds His kingdom!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,1,37],"tags":[749,16,188,417,167],"class_list":{"0":"post-4125","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-childrens-ministries","8":"category-general","9":"category-womens-ministries","10":"tag-749","11":"tag-discipleship","12":"tag-family","13":"tag-michelle-anthony","14":"tag-parenting","15":"entry"},"title_es":"\u00bfQu\u00e9 es espiritual sobre la crianza de los hijos?","content_es":"Escrito por Michelle Anthony \u00a1Parenting es un compromiso de proporciones \u00e9picas! Como padres, pasamos nuestros d\u00edas logrando una amplia lista de cosas importantes ... y no tan importantes. \u00a1Son mucho tiempo y son gravosos! Considere el gran volumen de recursos disponibles para ayudar a los padres en sus tareas. Hay libros que tratan sobre ADD, hora de acostarse, disciplina, desaf\u00edo, toque de queda, quejas, orinarse en la cama, morder, finanzas, amigos, pelear en el auto (\u00a1un libro completo sobre argumentos de autom\u00f3viles!), Modales, medios de comunicaci\u00f3n, entrenamiento en el ba\u00f1o ... usted \u00a1nombralo! Alguien dijo una vez que, \"En la crianza de los ni\u00f1os, los d\u00edas son largos, pero los a\u00f1os son cortos\". Cuando era una madre joven, me preguntaba: \u201c\u00bfSuperar\u00e9 este d\u00eda vivo y sano?\u201d Y, sin embargo, ahora, como un nester vac\u00edo, no puedo evitar preguntarme c\u00f3mo sucedi\u00f3 todo tan r\u00e1pido. Aunque los deberes necesarios llenan nuestros d\u00edas, hay algo espiritual en nuestra crianza que a menudo se pierde en lo mundano. \u00bfC\u00f3mo pueden los padres vislumbrar la eternidad en medio de lo ordinario y no simplemente pasar sus horas, sino invertir sus d\u00edas? Considere estas siete estrategias que pueden convertir los deberes rutinarios de ser padres en una vida que tiene una perspectiva espiritual:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Abandonar la idea de una crianza perfecta.<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Cuando fallas, pide perd\u00f3n. Esto modela c\u00f3mo deben responder sus hijos cuando fallan.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Descarta la necesidad de impresionar a todos ... \u00a1incluy\u00e9ndote a ti mismo!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>F\u00edjese metas realistas y comun\u00edquelas a los miembros de su familia.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Resista la mentira de \"Super-Parent\" ... \u00a1y pida ayuda!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Vivir una vida honesta y aut\u00e9ntica antes de que su hijo desarrolle una relaci\u00f3n convincente con usted en el futuro.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Conc\u00e9ntrese en el coraz\u00f3n de su hijo ... no solo en el comportamiento<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Reconozca que a menudo hay \"algo m\u00e1s\" debajo de la superficie de la mala conducta. T\u00f3mese el tiempo para descubrir lo que podr\u00eda ser.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cuando se distribuye la disciplina, aseg\u00farese de que las consecuencias naturales se maximizan ... tienen el mayor impacto a largo plazo.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Elimine la verg\u00fcenza y la culpa para motivar a su hijo hacia cierto comportamiento ... al final, destruyen el alma.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Determine preocuparse menos y rezar m\u00e1s.<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>\u00a1Reconoce que la preocupaci\u00f3n es un zapper de energ\u00eda!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Dedique tiempo cada d\u00eda para unos minutos de reflexi\u00f3n tranquila en la Palabra de Dios y tiempo para orar.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cuando surja una situaci\u00f3n dif\u00edcil, p\u00eddale a Dios sabidur\u00eda y fortaleza antes de actuar.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Escriba oraciones o versos y col\u00f3quelos alrededor de su casa para que los aliente.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Reza con y por tu hijo.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n \t<li><strong>Hable con (no a) su hijo todos los d\u00edas<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Mire a su hijo a los ojos al hablar.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Escuche con generosidad las cosas que son importantes para su hijo.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>S\u00e9 consciente de lo que no se est\u00e1 diciendo. Haga preguntas que le permitan a su hijo compartir su coraz\u00f3n.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>T\u00f3mese el tiempo cada d\u00eda para concentrarse en su hijo, sin interrupciones de los medios o la tecnolog\u00eda. Esto le comunica su valor a usted.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Estar involucrado con padres de ideas afines<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Invol\u00facrese en una iglesia local (la mayor\u00eda tiene grupos de padres y programas).<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Conoce vecinos con tus mismos valores para crear grupos de juego o salidas.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>T\u00f3mese tiempo para tener \"conversaciones adultas\" ... \u00a1sin culpa!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Dale a tu hijo un fuerte sentido de identidad<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>D\u00edgale palabras positivas a su hijo mientras lo identifica (por ejemplo: \"Es un buen oyente\" en lugar de \"Es t\u00edmido\" o \"Ella es creativa y expresiva\" en lugar de \"No le gustan los deportes\").<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cu\u00e9ntele a su hijo historias de la historia y el patrimonio de su familia.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Comparte tu jornada de fe con tu hijo.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ofrezca palabras de \"bendici\u00f3n\" a su hijo en las comidas y antes de dejarlo en eventos deportivos o en la escuela.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Cree oportunidades para que su hijo sirva a otros<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Permita que su hijo est\u00e9 expuesto a las necesidades de su comunidad.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ayude a su hijo a determinar sus dones y c\u00f3mo podr\u00eda ponerlos en acci\u00f3n por el bien de otra persona.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>D\u00e9 oportunidades para que su hijo reserve dinero o pertenencias para aquellos que lo necesitan.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Prepare una comida para una nueva mam\u00e1 o una persona mayor y entr\u00e9guenla juntos.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\u00a1Comience hoy, poniendo estas cosas en pr\u00e1ctica! Al final del d\u00eda, es posible que a\u00fan se sienta agotado al caer en la cama, pero sabr\u00e1 que ha invertido en lo que realmente importa ... \u00a1acercarse a su hijo con una mentalidad espiritual que honra a Dios y construye su reino!","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/10\/MA-What\u2019s-Spiritual-about-Parenting.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-14x","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}