How Do Parents Gain the Respect of Their Children?

It is within human nature to try to please others by being nice. However parents can’t always be nice if appropriate discipline and boundaries are used to teach children how to live in a family and society. Refusing to enforce rules and boundaries goes against God’s guidelines for parenting.

Making every effort to please is an attempt to avoid feeling guilty. Unreal or pseudo guilt is triggered by the failure to please everyone. At this juncture ask, “Is it better to be loved and accepted at this moment or to be respected?”

Most parents know children will not always like them, maybe even hate them.

Children who respect their parents go out into the world with a greater chance for success than those who have been pampered and coddled. Let this appeal be yours from Psalm 25:4-5: “Show me your way, O Lord. Teach and guide me in your truths, for you are my God and my hope.”

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

~Isaiah 55:8-9 New International Version

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Can Habitual Lying Be Subdued?

Have you noticed that children do not need to be taught how to lie or deliberately hide the truth? This tendency seems to be connected to some perceived threat of punishment. Parents are saddled with the task of teaching children to be truthful, for lying can become a habit or behavior pattern that lasts a lifetime.

As a child, I was told that little white lies supposedly didn’t matter much. However, white lies can be a steppingstone to a lifetime of fabrications and falsehoods that become a sinful habit. This pattern may progress on to become pathological lying, where a blatant lie is indistinguishable from the truth.

If lying has become habitual, there is help. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of its depravity so it moves your heart and soul to confession and repentance. Ask Jesus to fill you with his truth and also with clarity so that whenever you’re tempted to lie, you will instantly recognize it. God promises you a way to escape, so be determined to take it.  

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Do you want a long, good life? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from lying.

~Psalm 34:12-13 The Living Bible

 

Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you.

Psalm 25:4-5 Good News Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.