It's about the Giving

Some folks believe that the Christmas season should be year round. Is that because of all of the giving, or all of the getting? Servanthood parenting is not about the getting. It’s about the giving. We should be servants to our children? What???
It’s not about doing everything for your children. "Dad, this shirt's dirty and I want to wear it today." "Okay, son, let me wash it right away." That sets the stage for children feeling entitled and being demanding. It is about Godly parenting, "I've got some time, son. If you put your vocabulary words on flash cards, I'll quiz you when you're finished."You know your child’s needs and feelings, you anticipate, you guide, you find teachable moments.
God sent parents to children to be His emissaries. Jesus is our parenting role model. His parenting His flock is the ideal role model for our parenting our children. Through His ministry and example, he gained an earned authority to convey wisdom to his followers. He preached servanthood in Matthew 19:30, where he explained that “the last shall be first and the first shall be last.”
When my kids were vying for seats on car rides, my rule was that the one who called dibs got to pick last. Since neither one wanted to go first, I could use the seat placement as reward.
“Do it because I said so.” Will get you fearful compliance at the expense of emotional intimacy and meaningful relationship. As servant parents, we develop earned authority, where our children follow our direction because they want to, not only because they have to. During Christmas and other seasons of our lives, it is truly about the giving.

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