There was a TV show that ran from 1978 to 1986 called Different Strokes. The sitcom revolved around a white widowed millionaire who adopted two black children. Phil Drummond had promised his housekeeper he would care for her children upon her death. Phil had to learn to parent in a world filled with many challenges, including raising children with racial differences.

Every home has challenges.

In raising 3 children of our own, two boys and one girl, one thing is for sure, every child and family is unique and faces different challenges.

There are homes with a dad and a mom, those with single parents, and homes that have blended families. Raising boys is different from raising girls, and every child is unique. Some children are very active and physical, while others are more subdued. Some children are introverts and others extroverts. Some excel in sports, while others would rather read, draw, play an instrument, etc.

Your challenge as a parent is learning the dynamics of your family and what makes each child tick. Every child is special in their own way and responds to different stimuli and parenting techniques.

Do all you can to identify your child’s unique strengths and gifting.

God has gifted every person with their own personality, gifts and talents. Thank God Beethoven was put in front of a piano, Michelangelo was given a chisel and a brush, and Steve Jobs had a computer. Give your child opportunities to experiment and find the gifts God has placed inside of them. This helps build self esteem.

You cannot raise every child with the same brush stroke. There are different strokes for different folks!

Biblical principles of parenting should remain steadfast, but application may need to be tweaked for each child.

For example, some children are easily guided and disciplined with a strong verbal parental command and or incentives, while others may need a rod of correction. Time out and removal of pleasures are all techniques of discipline. We recommend you never take a child out of a church activity as punishment. This would be counterproductive to their spiritual well being. We also do not believe in sending a child to his or her room as a form of punishment. Isolation and allowing them to seep in anger and or rebellion is not healthy.

Obviously child abuse should never be confused with proper discipline.

The Bible disagrees with the notion that spanking is child abuse. Some parents abuse their children without laying a hand on them. Our personal opinion is spanking should only be considered after other methods have been exhausted, and only If it works. No one form of discipline works in every case. You have to work at determining what works when and never discipline in anger. Also, take every opportunity to affirm your love for your child after disciplining them and speak encouraging words into their spirit.

We understand some people believe spanking should never be an option for discipline.

There are various reasons for this belief system, including misuse and abuse of spanking, and of course secular teaching against spanking.

For sure a parent should research all forms of behavior modification with the goal of raising obedient and kind hearted children with manners. A child should never be allowed to be lawless.

Story

Even at a young age children display certain tendencies and likings. My oldest son was drawn to computers and building things, my younger son was always banging on things in rhythm, my daughter was creative and liked to draw. We filled our home with musical instruments, skate ramps, a basketball hoop, a trampoline, bikes, books, action figures, toy guns, swords, dolls, art easels, computers, a video camera for the kids, etc. This provided an opportunity for our children’s gifts and talents to be unveiled and to grow. It was also a tool for discipline. We knew what our children did not want taken away from them. We helped direct every one of our children to use their gifts and talents in church, in school, for fun, for business.

BOTTOM LINE:

Every home and child is different and faces challenges.
Help identify each child’s unique gifts and talents and develop them.
Biblical principles must remain steadfast in raising children, but application may need tweaking for each child.
Behavior modification and discipline is a must in raising healthy children.

Today’s Prayer: LORD, please give me insight and wisdom as to your purpose for each of my children. Help me to identify their gifts and talents and to develop them to become all they can be. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen

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