“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” (Proverbs 15:17)
Living the American dream means everything is within our grasp if we want it. It could be we work hard and pay for it or grab the credit card to get it but if it’s on a shelf or a website and we want it, we can get it. Parents are raising their children with the philosophy of, “I want them to have all that I didn’t” but is this really Christian living? What comes along with giving our child everything we didn’t have?
Many times it means two parents working to make ends meet, providing all for the children while keeping up with the household chores and demands of life. The children are left to be babysat and then maybe put into every sport they can think of to keep them busy. Is this living the American dream?
Some people may think so but I’d rather live the biblical way of peace and harmony in the home without the chaos of an “it’s all about me” life. How does one go about this? How does one raise their child to understand that it is a far better dream to live in the roles God designed for us than the rat race the world offers us?
Fathers Providing
This may not be a popular concept these days but when the father can take his proper role as provider for the family, the mother can take her role and peace ensues. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (I Timothy 5:8) This could be two fold in that the father provides not only physically for the family but spiritually as well. God placed it within the men to want to protect and care for their families.Mothers Nurturing
A mother is by nature the comforter and caregiver. This was clearly a beautiful design by God to help with the balance in the home. When she is at home caring for the children each day, taking care of the house and preparing meals, she is fulfilling the role God gave her. This continues to create peace and harmony in the home when she can have things in order. A woman does set the tone in the house and although there are days when things are crazy and maybe the house isn’t perfect, to be home with the children and providing their comfort brings a love and harmony in the home that passes anything this world can offer. Proverbs 31 gives us a good description of the virtuous woman and he reminds us in verse 27 how faithful she is to her task. “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”Children Serving
When the parents take their proper roles and responsibilities they set an example to the children of each serving the other. This in turn sets it up for the children to learn not only what their roles will be as godly adults but how to serve others in the process. God wants us to teach our children that the joy of their Christian life comes from surrendering to Him and serving others. Acts 20:35 supports this well. “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You can never go wrong serving others. My children have learned to serve in our home their weaker parents (mom with so many health issues) and I’ve noticed they are never happier than when they are working together and serving in the home. We won’t have a perfect home and we may not be able to give our children all the materialistic things in our world but they will have a joyful childhood and memories of a loving home when we can provide them with a godly home. Enjoy Ron Hamilton’s song about families.