Guide our family

I talked about protecting our families which is extremely important. This week I'd like to talk about guiding our family. I believe in not stifling a child's creativity. But I also find that phrase means different things to different people. I do not think that letting a child do whatever they want whenever they want is a good thing. That can have an adverse effect. They can learn that it doesn't matter how they treat people because the only one that matters is their own self. Or however they act is acceptable no matter how it is. That is where I think guiding them comes into play. We teach them right and wrong actions and that wrong ones have consequences. We help lead them along a path that will assist them in becoming people others want to be around. People that think about others. Guiding them is different than dictating. It might not seem to be when they are young because we seem to always be telling them what to do. They do need to have a firm foundation of right and wrong actions to build on.  As they grow they still need guidance but they also need room to make decisions on their own. A parent trust that the guidance given as their children grow will facilitate good decision making in the rest of the lives but the final decision to ultimately up to them.  Our job as parents is to guide and protect. We need to be their biggest cheerleader. Also part of our job is to allow God to help them to become the individual He created them to be.