Do I have the freedom? Getting the kids to ask this question instead of asking, May I? as in asking for permission is a step towards them starting to internalise the question themselves. This is, of course, just what I want them to do. I want them to be faced with a daily decision and to ask themselves Do I have the freedom? Do I have the freedom to leave this computer? Do I have the freedom to play this game? Do I have the freedom to speed? Do I have the freedom to watch this movie? Do I have the freedom?
What gives me freedom? It is not my inherent rights, but rather the freedom we have in Christ, the peace we get when our lives are in harmony with the desires of God.
The responsibility is mine, as the parent, to put into my childrens hearts the values that do line up with the Word of God so that they have a standard to think about. Once that standard (the Word of God) is in their heart, it has to become their responsibility, at some stage, to decide to follow it or not. We use the word Conscience, or prompting of the Holy Spirit but either way, the children have to slow down and learn to listen. There are times, already in their lives, that I am not physically with them; will they make the right choices?
We teach them by asking them the question, Do you have the freedom? and getting them to ask themselves Do I have the freedom? I believe this phrase is a tool that will help them make wise decisions now as children and in the future as an adult.
That is so great! This is the kind of thing I was telling you about regarding the Principle Approach. The principle of self-government which is that we learn to govern internally to deal with the external and we do it by our knowledge of His Word, hiding it in our hearts, and obedience to it! Of course, this is the chopped down, one sentence description, but that’s the gist!
I just got your email and will write you tomorrow! I’m about done in for tonight!
Me
Hi Belinda,
Thanks for visiting my blog and I really appreciate your suggestion. I knew there must be something simple and cheap on the market for teaching touch typing to kids and I have your personal experience that it actually works too. I’ll go and look for that progamme.
Regards,
Paula
Great post! Teaching our children to have discernment is so very important. Training them to think logically is essential in today’s world, where so many people do not know how to reason from a Biblical worldview.