Are We Reaching the Heart?

Matt and I have been slowly reading through the book "Shepherding Your Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. It is a classic book on child rearing from a christian perspective. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard Tedd and Margie Tripp interviewed on fltoday.org this week. Here are some of the points they went through on the broadcast. I would say there is some real food for thought here.

Ten Truths for Parents to Impress on Their Children

Editor’s Note: On the September 29, 2010, FamilyLife Today broadcast, “Addressing the Heart,” host Dennis Rainey promises the following list of truths and description of the heart from Tedd and Margy Tripp’s book Instructing a Child’s Heart.

• Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. It is not found in new jeans, a new iPod, a car, one’s abilities, or exciting, heart-pounding experiences.
• We need to walk in wisdom, submit to the goodness of God’s way, and turn away from our own agendas.
• A life of prayer and godly counsel is our desire.
• Choices that are principled rather than popular, foregoing immediate gratification for the sake of eternal reward, are the goal.
• God’s authority structures are a blessing. For an eight-year-old this means I can trust Mom’s decision that I need an eight o’clock bedtime. Demanding my own way when I still need parental guidance short-circuits God’s training process.
• Loving parents are a blessing from God. Loyalty to parental instruction is an expression of gratitude to God. The majority culture offers a fraudulent counterfeit by encouraging young people to be loyal to their peers rather than their parents.
• The heart is the wellspring of life. The things children give their hearts to the hopes, ambitions, desires, dreams, joys, and concerns will set the course of life.
• Our hearts cannot be trusted (Jer. 17:9). Our hearts will lie to us. Children (and their parents) are easily entrapped and need to be accessible to others for counsel, instruction, and nurture.
• Friendships are for the purpose of glorifying God, encouraging others, showing love and compassion, and gaining encouragement to do what is right.
• There is a sowing and reaping principle in the Bible and we need to develop a harvest mentality. Children who trust and obey God find their heads crowned with wonderful blessings. Of course, this truth cuts both ways. The ten-year-old boy who is laze about his chores will reap what he is sowing because God will not be mocked.

Adjectives That Describe the Heart

The adjectives used in the Bible to describe the heart are an eye-opener. The heart is variously described as adulterous, anguished, arrogant, astray, bitter, blameless, blighted, broken, calloused, circumcised, contrite, crushed, darkened, deadened, deceitful, deluded, devoted, disloyal, envious, evil, faint, faithful, far off, fearful, foolish, grateful, happy, hard, haughty, humble, mad, malicious, obstinate, perverse, proud, pure, rebellious, rejoicing, responsive, righteous, sick, sincere, sinful, steadfast, troubled, unfeeling, uncircumcised, upright, unsearchable, weary, wicked, wise, and wounded.

Excerpted from pages 41-42 and page 53 of Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp. Published by Shepherd Press. © 2008 by Tedd Tripp and Margy Tripp.

A Mother's Paraphrase of James Chapter One:

I just finished reading a small booklet by Holly Elliff, a frequent guest on the Revive Our Hearts radio broadcast. She is the mother of eight children and authored this booklet called Turning the Tide Having More Children Who Follow Christ! One thing I thought was really neat was a paraphrase from James chapter one that was paraphrased for mothers.

"My sisters, when children of all ages crowd into your life, don't resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends. Realize that all of your children have come to test your faith (and your patience!) and to produce in you the quality of endurance. Let them grow up, accomplishing their purpose. Then you will be mature and complete and lacking in nothing. If, however, during the years you invest in them, you find that you lack wisdom in any moment, you have only to ask God, who is the source of all that we need, and He will give you abundant grace for the task at hand without making you feel foolish or guilty."

What Does Little Birdie Say?

Our parents watch over us and take care of us until it is time for us to leave home.

I ran across this poem, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, today while reading to Gabriel. It is a strong reminder of how fleeting the days are that we have to teach and train our children.

What does little birdie say
In her nest at peep of day?
"Let me fly," says little birdie."
"Mother, let me fly away."

Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger.
So she rests a little longer,
Then she flies away.

What does little baby say
In her bed at peep of day?
Baby says, like little birdie,
"Let me rise and fly away."

Baby, sleep a little longer,
Till the little limbs are stronger.
If she sleeps a little longer,
Baby too shall fly away.

This poem is sobering, but it made me think again about how I am using the swiftly passing days I have with my children. Am I too busy? Are we at home enough? Am I talking enough, reading enough, praying enough? Am I modeling the character I want them to emulate? Am I leading gently, kindly but consistently? To be honest I probably fall short of what I want to be doing more times than not. This is, however, where my heart is. I want to be equipping and training in righteousness while my little birdies are still in my nest. I would love to hear from you; what are your thoughts on your time with your little birdies? How are you preparing them to fly?