5 Ways Your Kids Can Help You Grow Spiritually

In discussions of Christian parenting, the focus is generally on how parents can help their children develop the strongest possible faith foundations and develop to their full God given potential. But did you know, parenting your children as God would want you to can also help you grow spiritually?

There are five ways in particular that Christian parenting can help us grow spiritually.

  • Selflessness. The Bible teaches that we are to consider others before ourselves. One might think it comes naturally to put your children’s needs above your own, but it doesn’t. Self care can easily become selfishness if we aren’t careful. If we are mindful in our choices, however, parenting can give us lots of practice in selflessness.
  • Humility. The most effective parents admit their ignorance and seek help from more experienced Christian parents. We all make plenty of mistakes in parenting. Instead of trying to deny or hide those mistakes, use them as a reminder to stay humble.
  • Patience. It takes a lot of patience to answer all of the questions your children have or to teach them everything they need to know to live the Christian life. And especially to stay calm when they are being disobedient or just annoying. When you feel yourself becoming impatient, remind yourself you have just been given an opportunity to work on your patience.
  • Perseverance. It takes a lot of perseverance to raise children who become strong, productive Christians as adults. Christian parenting is a marathon. Use that marathon to increase your perseverance.
  • Prayer. For many Christian parents, prayer is their life line. If your prayer life has become anemic, use praying for your children as motivation to improve your prayer life.

When you think about parenting your children towards God, take time to consider how you need to grow spiritually. Use the opportunities parenting naturally gives you to work on your own spiritual growth.

Published by

Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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