02/22/2025
We must be careful, because…..
Our Kids are Watching Us!!!
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
One of the greatest honors, here on earth is….. is when our children follow our footsteps. As a parent, we watch our small children, as they start on their journey of life.
From newborn, infant, toddler, preschool, school-age and adult….. we show them the way (the best we can) so their life will be productive, stable and meaningful. I don’t know about your kid(s), but mine DID NOT come with instructions.
As all of us parents know, there are many that will give advise….. good and bad. But, which is good and which is bad?
Parents, it’s up to us individually, to be rooted in Gods Word so that “WE” know what is good and acceptable, in the eyes of God.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We’ll never know how to raise a child correctly, in the eyes of God, if we don’t understand “we” need God in our life.
I promise you this, if you don’t raise your child in a Godly way, this dark, corrupt world will be glad to!!
For the life of me, I don’t understand why a parent would allow a child to do something wrong…. then laugh at it, and say, isn’t that cute? I just saw a child dropping the “f bomb” while with his mom and dad…. and in public. Then curse at will. This child was 3-4 years old. Is this funny?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
It is so horrible, for a parent to think this is “cute” or just allow a child to continue to use such language. Mom, Dad, is it cute? Are you proud that your child knows, probably the only words you know? Whose fault is it. Well, here we go.
Counseling with kids I have found, 99% of them learned this from one or both parents. As they grow and not corrected, they see this as normal behavior.
Then, they are enrolled into school and not long afterwards, there’s a call to the parents about the kids language. Whose fault is it? That’s right, it’s the teachers fault, they didn’t really like your child, right???? WRONG, IT’S YOUR FAULT !!
No parental correction!!
When they are suspended from school, whose fault is it ??? It’s the hard nose, unfair principal….. right?? WRONG, IT’S YOUR FAULT !! No parental correction!!
Then you get mad with the teacher and the principal and you decide to go over their head and go to the School Board, seeking a different decision. School Board backs the teacher and principal and punishment stands. Whose fault is it? The teacher, the principal and the School Board’s…… right?? WRONG, IT’S YOUR FAULT !! No parental correction!! No parental correction!!
As the child gets older…. and, because you acceptee, excused or even encouraged their actions, nothing changes and it gets worse.
Then the child gets in trouble with the law, but, who was a contributing factor?? That’s right, The teacher, the principal the School Board…. because, all of them were unfair, they have favored other students and not yours, they are just trying to be hard on your child because they had such a hard past, or its a black or white thing. It’s amazing , NO ONE likes your child.
Then after graduation from high school (most quit), they apply for a job just to find out, they were pasted over because of the troubled past and law enforcement has made contact with them. Whose fault is it? It’s the whole systems fault (school, job supervisor, justice system or it’s racial). WRONG!!
IT IS YOUR FAULT!! No parental correction!!
Sin never stays small, it grows like a cancer.
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
We have to be strong as parents and call wrong, wrong and right, right. It is our responsibility to reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.
Is that easy? Nope, it sure isn’t!! We don’t want our child to get upset with us, so, instead of calling wrong, wrong….. it’s called “cute”.
God, in His Word tells us to train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are older, they won’t depart.
Friend, that’s good or bad.
You either teach them in the way of Godly living or you teach them to trust the world.
Teach them by taking them to church (you go with them), reading bible stories, praying with them. Let them see Christ in you!
Or you can choose to raise them up in a house of foul language, drinking, drugs….. show them how to be/dress sexually provocative….. THEN don’t be surprised when you get a phone call from the emergency room or law enforcement about something that has  tragically happened to your child .
Only in a very small percentage, is it the failt of someone else. So, whose fault is it?? That’s right, the world’s fault. WRONG !! IT’S YOUR FAULT!! No parental correction!!
Think of this, maybe it will help my point.
If kids are at school, 7-8 hours a day, that means that your kids are with YOU, for 16 hours’ish. They are with us, twice as long as they are with the teacher, or the principal. BUT, when they leave the house, and bring what they’ve learned at home, to school….. whose fault is it…. Everyone eleses??? That’s right….. WRONG !! IT’S YOUR FAULT !! No parental correction!!
The excuse is, they are small, they don’t know better….. it’s cute.
This is what happens. You enable or encourage your child’s behavior (it’s funny or cute). Then as the child grows older, you find yourself too deep to appropriately discipline them (for bad behavior(s)), because for all of their life, you have accepted their bad, disrespectful, rude inconsiderate, and impolite, behavior. 
As they have grown older you tell yourself and others, “it is, what it is”.
It’s hard to be a parent, especially nowadays.
We are living in times that’s hard on children.
The last thing we need to be doing is, dumbing them down so that they pass the grade.
Dad, mom, if the school has the kids for 8 hours, they sleep for 8 hours, that means you can be there for them as a guide for good behavior, for 8 hours. We do not need television programs raising our children. We do not need video games raising our children. We do not need other people raising our children. Our children are gift from God for US to raise .
We should take that child, and encourage good behavior….. be mentor and be a Godly example so that when they walk in our footsteps,  they will find love and success.
Please take this message in love and know that this pastor loves you !!
Pastor Steve Pridgen
