| LESSON 13 | DECEMBER 31, 2011 TEBET 5, 5772 |
"Jayla is just like me!" Malik said to his wife Wanda. "That’s why we don’t get along." "Part of the reason you don’t get along is because you treat her mean." Wanda said. "Something in you both clashes, and when it does, fireworks result. One of you has to be an adult, and it’s not going to be a 5 year old child."
Wanda gave some wisdom for Malik to consider. Was he treating his child with the respect he would treat a stranger with?
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
One of the important things to teach children is the attitude in which to deal with various situations life gives us. One of the most stressing situations is dealing with our children. If parents can keep their wits about them, they can teach their children not to escalate arguments, how to stay calm in stressful situations, and how to deal with authority.
Role Playing
Tool 2: Try to remain calm in all situations. Always show a godly attitude.
Use the scene set in the Introduction. Imagine Jayla mouthing off to her father. How would Malik deal correctly and wrong in the situation.
Imagine, two hours after the incident, Jayla asks her father to take her to the mall to buy shoes. How does Malik and Jayla respond?
Stay calm. Do not render evil for evil. — I Thessalonians 5:11-15, I Peter 3:8-15
Rearing children makes you grow. — Romans 5:1-5, James 1:1-4
Ask for wisdom to handle child-rearing situations. — James 1:5, I Kings 3:9, Proverbs 2:1-9
With older children, when we know that we are right, we have to let life teach them. — Galatians 6:7-10
Think of other role-playing situations of how to stay calm and think through other parenting challenges.