Sense of Respect

"Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do To You"

Luke 6:31

This week we will be going over Chapter 5 in MomSense. We'll be discussing respect and how it is relevant to our relationship with our children. I can always remember my mom stressing the commandment that we should honor our mother and our father, but there is a flip side to that coin. As parents we are to love and respect our children. In order to develop respectful children, we need to respect our children.

^"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Colossians 3:21

 

As parents we are the foremost important model for our children. Our children are watching. They are watching how we treat others, how we treat them, and how we talk about others when they are not in the room. Here are some tips from MomSense on raising respectful children.

• Interact often with your children.
• Value your children's thoughts and opinions.
• Say nice things about other people.
• Use positive forms of communication.
• Do what you say.
• When (not if) you mess up, say, "I'm sorry."

I came across the following poem on Christian-Bloggers. They also shared this sermon from Truth for Life which is worth a listen.

I Took a Piece of Plastic Clay:
(Author Unknown)

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day-
And as my fingers pressed it, still
It bent and yielded to my will.

I came again when days were past
The bit of clay was hard at last.
The form I gave it, still it bore,
But I could change that form no more!

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when years were gone:
He was a man I looked upon.
The early imprint still he bore,
But I could change him then no more.

In our discussion groups we will go over your personal MomSense. If you have an opportunity, think over these discussion questions from the end of the chapter.

1. Describe actions that are respectful.
2. Describe actions that are disrespectful.
3. What does or would respect look like in your home?
4. What is one thing you can do today to show your children you respect others?
5. What is one thing you can do today to show your children you have respect for them?