This series, “Bring Them Up,” is based on Ephesian 6:4, “(Parents) bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  It’s our job – moms – to bring them up to maturity!

First, I shared an overview focusing on our parental relationship, the right fuel, and the road ahead.  Now, we are in the middle of examining our roles at different stages and ages.

Ages	Our Role
0-5	Caretaker
6-12	Coach
13-17	Counselor
18+	Consultant

Ages 13-17
Our Role = Counselor

Pray, people pray!  At this stage, you are praying like never before!  The reason – peer influence is paramount.  The voice of the world is loud and chaotic, often drowning out that “still small voice.”  The voice, of His Spirit.

There’s no need to panic in these years of “uncharted waters.”  Remain confident and calm that Jesus will speak to them.  From ages 0-12, you’ve given a ton (a slew) of direction, instruction, correction, and guidance.  Lot’s of “coaching” – see last week’s article.  This is the time to choose your words carefully.  Guard yourself from giving too many words – like a good counselor would do!

Your girls are becoming women and trying to figure “that” out.  Whew!  Do we ever get “that” figured out?  Next week – girl talk, counseling little women.

 

This Week: Counseling Little Men

Your boys are becoming men, and men feel disrespected if mom’s words come across belittling, humiliating, berating, or demeaning.  (Same for a wife to husband too.)  Protect your little men’s manhood by allowing them to become the man God intended them to be.  Respect speaks love and affirmation.  It also builds self-esteem.  Our guys need it, ladies.  Pour it on!

The following well-known verse is given in the context of male-female relationships – wives to husbands.  There is a principle that applies to raising sons as well.

But (women, moms) let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:4

If God likes it, our guys will too!

 

Enlist Big Men with Little Men

When Will turned 12, I began to notice he wasn’t as “quick” to respond to my instruction.  We’ve always had a sweet relationship.  I didn’t want to jeopardize that if my life depended on it!  So, I sought the Lord… the Lord impressed me to have Mike step in to give Will instruction, especially the things that make a man a man –  responsibility!  Mike did, and that did it!

Will’s respect for Mike grew – an added benefit to every relationship in the home!  And, Will and I continued to enjoy a sweet relationship – until this very day!

Power of Praying Scripture

No matter what the age, there is tremendous power in praying Scripture over your child.  This practice never stops!

God listens for His Word in our prayers – Rick Renner, author of Sparkling Gems.  The Father agrees with His Word because He has exalted His Name and His Word!

For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Psalm 138:2

 

Powerful Scriptures for Your Little Men

Pray that your young men would love God and others.  Even Jesus said this was the greatest!

And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor (others) as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40

Pray that God makes him a man like Daniel.  (Will asked us to pray David, for him too!)

God gave them (Daniel) learning and skill in all literature and wisdom
Daniel 1:17

Pray that God makes him a man of prayer.

Daniel… got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 
Daniel 6:10-11

Pray he is wise and leads others to righteousness – that he’s all about discipleship and the gospel.

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;
and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3

Pray that he shines as a light in this world, holding fast to the word of life!

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16

Pray he is an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

* Next week – girl talk, counseling little women. *