The Chore Wars

Do your kids have regular chores? Or do they help around the house whenever you ask them to do something on a daily basis? How you have your kids help with the chore type tasks around the house may not be as important as merely asking them to perform those tasks. Those mundane tasks around your home teach your kids crucial life lessons and more importantly, crucial Christian life lessons.

You have probably figured out by now that life is full of lots of boring and even unpleasant tasks that must be done. You know, like balancing your checkbook, doing laundry or cleaning the toilets. Your kids are probably still struggling with this. They want life to be all fun and games. Oh, they don’t mind the occasional fun task, like helping make cookies for the neighbor. Making their beds or doing homework, however, can be a very different story.

When I used to tell people we were homeschooling, one of the most common responses was, “I could never get my kids to do their schoolwork.” While homeschooling isn’t for everyone, having children who won’t do their schoolwork when asked by a parent is a very real problem indeed.

In Christianity, just like in the secular world, there are chore type things that must be done. God also expects us to obey His commands, which at times may feel about as fun as chores. It’s not always fun to do the things God wants us to do. Sometimes you get really hot and sweaty and tired. Sometimes the task He asks us to do is just plain boring. Sometimes He wants us to avoid doing something that looks like fun, because He knows it’s not in our best interest.

If your kids won’t do chores – either scheduled or ad hoc – they may also have problems doing the things God wants them to do. If they won’t do their schoolwork or homework when asked, because they would rather have fun, they may struggle to be obedient to God. When they whine and complain, remind them that everyone has to clean the toilets of life sometimes and they might as well learn to do it with grace and humility now.

At the end of the day, chores are about self control, self discipline, responsibility and a lot of other qualities God wants His people – including your kids to have. The next time the chore wars erupt in your home, stand firm. Help your kids learn to have the godly traits doing boring, unpleasant things can grow. They will need those qualities to be who God wants them to be.

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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