Although Christians are called to respect people’s comfort zones in contexts that involve treating people in a considerate way, Christians should teach their children to step outside of their own when a comfort zone prevents them from helping someone only because of discomfort.
For the child who pushes through her comfort zone to reach out to a classmate, it is a memorable decision that helps that child begin to learn what it means to live a Christian life.
As more people from the public become Christian for the first time, there will be questions about how to raise children to lead Christian lives. One of the most valuable lessons to teach a child involves comfort zones. Although Christians are called to respect people’s comfort zones in contexts that involve treating people in a considerate way, Christians should teach their children to step outside of their own when a comfort zone prevents them from helping someone only because of discomfort.
For example, an adolescent daughter may come home and tell her parents that a girl from class asked her to come to a birthday party but that she is planning to turn down the invitation because her friends aren’t going, they said she is boring, and only one other girl from class might go. This example is similar to many scenarios in which a child is uncomfortable reaching out to another child who is not liked for superficial or contrived reasons. However, teaching children to step outside their comfort zones in these situations can make a real difference in the life of another child. For the little girl who is going to have a birthday party, it can mean the difference between a party with guests and a party without them, and those memories stay with a person. For the child who pushes through her comfort zone to reach out to a classmate, it is a memorable decision that helps that child begin to learn what it means to live a Christian life.
In fact, the scenario above follows children into their teenage years and adult lives.
Situations continue to arise where someone needs a hand in an uncomfortable situation. As teenagers and adults, those who learned how to push through their comfort zones in their youth are more likely to help that person while those who never learned how to cross that boundary line often remain less likely to try.
What you sow will reap. And sowing the seeds of Christianity early in the life really makes a huge difference in a kids growing up. And the parents are the key to the spiritual growth of a child.
Step by step as they learn to push their boundaries, they learn to be more close to God through their kindness and compassion and empathy. Parents can help a child in this process of becoming closer to God.
Young adolescents are beginning to wonder what their lives will hold. These years are a prime time for discussing the importance of trusting God with their future.
Share and discuss (Proverbs 3:5-6) with your children. Talk through it carefully: “What does it mean to ‘trust in the Lord’? How about ‘with all your heart’? Why is God’s understanding so much better than yours? What does it mean, ‘He will make your paths straight’?”
As your children grow, take note of their life stage and adjust your spiritual training accordingly.
God loves our children even more than we do. He desires that they have a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus.
I just want to share this principles that I use in raising my Children.
The parents must know and apply God's word in their own lives before they can be effective in teaching their children. You can't teach what you don't know.
The parents must establish God as the number one priority in the home and make this a standard for future generation.
The parents must teach their children the rewards of obedience as well as the consequence of disobedience to God.
The parents must inculcate in their children the concept of God's grace as the source of all blessings in life.