“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
Kids ask questions. It’s how they learn about and understand the world around them. This might wear you out and makes you tired, but remind yourself that this is not a bad thing at all. Savor these moments because it means that your kids are growing and communicating with you. Best of all, when kids ask questions, it opens the door for spiritual conversation and growth. Perhaps you are thinking, “What if my kid asks me a question about the rapture, whether or not their pet that died is going to be in Heaven, or something else that I can’t answer?” Don’t panic!
The answer may be, “I don’t know.”It might be hard to actually admit you don’t have the answer, but don’t worry. It is not going to destroy your kids’ confidence in your parenting skills or in you as a parent. It is actually a healthy thing for you to admit to your children that you don’t know something. It can be an excellent opportunity to model being a learner.
Follow up with, “Let’s find out the answer together.” Look it up in the Bible together and discover what God’s word says as a family. Ask a pastor or other spiritual leader about it. Ask another parent who has encountered the same question with their child. It’s a wonderful thing for the kids to see you excited about finding what the Bible says about a particular subject or question. There’s nothing better than having an experience with your child while trying to expand their knowledge of God and His Word.
References:
Special thanks to Pastor Tony Harrison of Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Our series of blogs on talking to children about God is based on his sermon series, “How To Talk To Kids About God.”
Image by Bess Hamiti from Pixabay
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