The Duties of Parents: Parenting Your Children God's Way

by J.C. Ryle

Solutions 1

They are like young plants and need gentle watering – often, and only a little at a time. We must not expect all things at once. We must remember what children are and teach them as they are able to bear. Their minds are like a lump of metal – not to be forged and made useful all at once but only by a succession of little blows.

Your training serves little purpose if you do not train your children to form a habit of implicit faith.

Encourage them in any circumstance to be straightforward and, whatever it may cost them, to speak the truth.

Our children see our ways, they mark our conduct, they observe our behavior, and then they practice what they see.

Fathers and mothers, don’t forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear. No school will make such deep impressions on character as the home.

May the Lord teach you all how precious Christ is and what a mighty and complete work He has done for our salvation. Then I feel confident that you will use every means to bring your children to Jesus that they may live through Him. May the Lord teach you all your need of the Holy Spirit, to renew, sanctify, and quicken your souls. Then I feel sure that you will urge your children to pray without ceasing and never rest until He comes into their hearts with power and makes them new creatures. The Lord grant this, and then I have hope that you will indeed train up your children well – train well for this life, and train well for the life to come; train well for earth, and train well for heaven; train them for God, for Christ, and for eternity.