PASS IT ON

 

PASS IT ON

Every godly parent is expected to pass on good legacy to his children. Passing on good legacy starts with the parent himself living out the virtues and values, being a worthy example to those children just as Jesus did to us as recorded in Acts  1:2 “everything that Jesus began to do and teach”. He walked the talk. Children learn better from example than what they say to them. Passing on good legacy is therefore made easier when children see those virtues in their parents.

 

In 2 Tim 1:5 there is an example of two great women – Louis and Eunice – Timothy’s grandmother and mother. Both women successfully passed on “unfeigned faith that they had in God from one generation to another. First from grandmother to mother and from mother to son. One is therefore not surprised that as a young man Timothy became a great instrument in the hand of God.

 

Abraham was another example. Even God bore witness of him in Gen 18:19 that “he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord”. He passed the worship and fear of the true God and absolute faith in Him together with a life worth emulating to Isaac his son. We never heard that Isaac deviated from this or worship another God. Even when he and his wife experienced delay in child-bearing Isaac did not give up, like his father he intreated God for his wife and waited on Him for Isaac and Jacob. Also when the men of Gerar contented with him on the well he dug he conceded the well to them choosing rather to tow the path of peace than violence until the contention ceased and he finally had rest. This was similar to the way his father Abraham chose the path of peace when Lot’s servants and his servants were quarrelling over space for their cattle. He allowed Lot to choose the land he wanted before him though he was older.

 

Isaac in turn handed over these values to his own son Jacob. Despite all that Jacob suffered in the hands of Laban – he changed his wages several time and even changed his bethrowed wife and extended his service for another seven years, he never  lost faith in God and he did not allow the custom of the people around him to influence him.

 

Jacob also passed on the baton to his sons. Prominent among them was Joseph who, despite all the sufferings he went through focused on God and feared Him greatly even among the heathen. His life was exemplary, demonstrating all their family values. Thus he continued to raise up the banner refusing to allow the faith of his fore-fathers to be overthrown by sin. In this way the legacy was being passed from one generation to another.

 

Jonadab the son of Rachab was another shining example. He made sure he passed on the legacy of abstinence from strong drink and non-deviation from their calling to his children as handed over to him by his father. His children not only obeyed him but also refuse to be intimidated by the fact that it was Jeremiah a respected prophet of God that offered them the strong drink. Jer 35:5-10.

 

Passing it on involves teaching them diligently, talking about these things when you are in your house, when you are strolling, when you are on a journey etc. Deut 6:7, writing them in strategic places. Deut 11:20 wearing them as wrist bands etc. Deut 11:18.

 

Every opportunity is a teaching aid, every situation or event, other peoples mistakes o success should serve as lesson to bring out the best of them. Don’t miss any opportunity.

 

All these call for time – creating time for your children!

 

The problem with parents of nowadays is absenteeism. They are not always there for the time children. They don’t have time. Even when they are at home, they spend most of the time on their phone of computers, giving more attention to social media than to their children.

 

Some substitute good things of life for the time they should spend with their children bombarding them with expensive gifts. Others contract this duty to other people. None of this can compensate for parental failure.

 

Every child needs the attention of his parents; therefore it is the duty of every parent to spend quality time with his children. Be there for them because they are your future. Nothing is as sorrowful in old age as disfunctional or irresponsible children who lack home training. They are like pause in the bones of their parents. Create time now or regret latter.

 

Passing on godly legacy is very important and every parent should ensure that this is done right from tender age. If parents don’t do it, others out there – friends, social media, society – are ready to pass on negativity to these children.

 

Here are some tips that will help parents in their task:

1.      Pray for them (even when they are (infants), smile at them, say positive things, praise them when necessary, hug them, show them love. Don’t think they don’t know anything. By this you are commucating love.

2.      Create time for family altar; make it short initially especially if they are still very young. If it is too long they will lose concentration, share the word of God and pray for them, pray. As they are growing older allow them to participate or even lead the family altar.

3.      Be their friend. Be approachable such that they will find it easy discussing and confiding in you. Don’t be too harsh, this will drive them away from you. Give them sense of belonging.

4.      Be involved in every stage of their life. Allow them to do things by themselves (under supervision). Don’t do everything for them. They will definitely make mistakes but correct them in love.

5.      Each child is unique. Discover your child. Be sensitive and know when there is danger. Try and explain why some things have to be done. Children of nowadays don’t like people forcing things down their throat. They will always ask why.

6.      Know their friends and make sure they are not the type that will influence them negatively. Prayerfully separate them from bad friends, explaining to them why such friends are not good for them.

7.      Have family values. Spelt them out one by one. Values like honesty, courtesy, appreciation, forgiveness, obedience, kindness, respect etc. teach them the importance of each of these values and do not rest until they are part of their daily living. Spell out punishment for running foul of them and reward for compliance.

8.      Pay attention to their education. Find time to sit with them to make sure they study and do their home work. Do your best to make sure they are doing well. If there is any problem, table it before God and He will solve it.

9.      Phones and social media, as useful as they are often constitute distraction for them, if they must use them regulate their use.

10. Doing household chores is a must for them, whether male or female. They must be trained.

 

Finally every hand must be on deck in this glorious assignment. Both parents are expected to cooperate because it a joint responsibility. Bringing up godly seed as God expects in Mal 2:15 is the effort of both parents. To top it up, God’s intervention in all these cannot be overemphasized especially in this corrupt generation.

 

In conclusion parent should work very hard as if all depends on them and should also pray very hard as if all depends on God. With 100% of you and 100% of God, good legacy shall be passed on from one generation to another.

 

Shalom.