Once you are a parent. . .I think teaching is meant to exist for the life of the parent/child relationship. In an -on the spot- demanding way, when kids are young. The word of God is a one hundred percent trustworthy source for teaching. I have seen the ability in my children to be many things that are not okay. When they are without direction-and even with, they figure out how to cheat, lie, fight, hold a grudge, take revenge. . .I don't think I need to go on... you get the picture!
That's just the negative that we try to discipline, or "teach out" of them. Now let's turn to the positive. We also want them to be loving, kind, act out of wisdom, be joyful... and obedient.
So on these two sides...correcting negative actions and teaching positive behaviors, there is one foundation that will uphold goodness. The Bible. Chances are-if your like me- you can't come up with a verse at the top of your head when...say...when one child throws a water bottle at the other's head and the hurt one is screaming and the non-injured is professing innocence. Or maybe when one of your sweet littles breaks your favorite ceramic coffee mug by being careless --and it's not like the other stainless steel type you have [that tamper with the flavor of the coffee]. Not saying that happened to me... you know just an example here.
Basically, as I am in the heat of any moment. . .I want to rely on scripture. I have struggled with this because I have so little memorized. Yet still...it is what I want to teach, and need to teach my children. It is more profitable to teach "because God says so," than "because mom says so." I am by no means the end all, but God-began all.
Over the past number of months I have collected verses specific to teaching my kids. They are mostly short. . .to the point and have a topic for quick finding. Here is a link to make your own Verse Printout. Simply print out the verses on card stock and cut them (sizes vary) punch a hole in the middle and hold together with a loose ring binder like below.
