After discussing with my hus- band the topic of training our children in Christian character, we made a couple
of decisions. First, we decided to focus
on;a;few;key;traits;and;work;on;culti-vating;those;in;our;children’s;character.
Second, we decided not to use a curriculum but rather to use those selected
character qualities as stepping-stones
during conversations about making
good decisions and about living our
daily lives, as we interacted with our
children. We would strive to achieve
our goal by following the instruction
found in this verse: “And thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by
the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6: 7).
Life;is;what;you;make;it.;I;find;my-
self repeating this over and over to my
children as they struggle to overcome
attitude adjustments, times of bore-
dom,;and;a;load;of;other;difficult;situ-
ations. In the end, it is not what we ac-
complish in life but how we go about
accomplishing the different tasks that
are set before us. When entrusted with
the care of children, including help-
ing to shape their character, there is no
single;method;that;will;make;children
super achievers. There is only dirty,
muddy,;gritty;work;that;involves;tears,
struggles with sin, and a whole lot of “on
your;knees”;prayers.
Here;are;the;top;five;traits;that;my;hus-band and I have decided to focus on in
our family:
1. Faith
Our Godly character traits list must
start with faith. We teach our children
the;stories;in;the;Bible,;which;share;the
true stories of God. He not only created
us but also chose to actively reach out
throughout history and show His love
and;care;for;us.;We;seek;to;instill;in;our
children;knowledge;of;the;Word;of;God
and an appreciation for time spent with
the Lord through prayer. We also want to
show our children, by example, what it
means to have an active relationship with
the Lord through the highs and yes, also
the lows, of life.
From the Word:
•;Ephesians;2:8–9:;“For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of
works, lest any man should boast.”
•;Romans;10:17:;“So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.”
2. Stubbornness/Persistence
The word stubborn, when used in character
training, is not always a negative concept.
When you imagine creating a stubborn
child,;you;may;think;of;children;refusing;to
do what you want or going above and beyond what you expect in order to get their
own way. It can be very frustrating.
Now;turn;that;around;and;think;about
our life of faith. We want our children
to be stubborn, not conforming to this
world, but going above and beyond the
expectations of the world by refusing to
step;into;sin;and;choosing;to;keep;their
eyes focused on Jesus.
From the Dictionary:
•;“Persevere;.;.;.;1.;To;persist;in;any;pur-
pose or enterprise; strive in spite of dif-
ficulties,;etc.”
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
The Dirty, Muddy Truth
About Developing Christian Character
By;Inger;Koppenhaver
In the end, it is not what we accomplish in
life but how we go about accomplishing
the;tasks;set;before;us.
