Author: Tonya

Guest Post ~ Teaching Children to Choose the Right

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mosesHebrews 11:25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

One of the most important things that I wanted to teach my children when they were very young was how to make decisions. I gave them opportunities to choose. For example, I let them choose the types of food or clothes they wanted…without interference.  Mind you, this was  not on all matters.

I am a strong believer in individuality and freedom of expression (guided by God’s principles and law).

In this world, children as well as adults, have to choose. We must choose to walk in the path of Christ or the path of the world.

One of the best ways to teach children to make right decisions is reading about Bible characters who chose the right amidst very trying times. I think of Esther and the courage she displayed as well as the three Hebrew boys. There is Daniel, Joseph and Moses. This list goes on and on.

“The Bible heroes of faith are to be our example…” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, Page 477

Are you allowing room for your little ones to make small decisions?  Do you teach them about the Bible heroes?

~Thanks Tonya, for sharing with us today!  You can normally find Tonya blogging at Momma’s Sunshine.

Daniel and his friends “Momma’s Sunshine”

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From the comparative simplicity of their Jewish home, these youth of royal line were taken to the most magnificent of cities and into the court of the world’s greatest monarch. Nebuchadnezzar “spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace. . . .

“Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ” Seeing in these youth the promise of remarkable ability, Nebuchadnezzar determined that they should be trained to fill important positions in his kingdom.

They were acquainted with the history of Nadab and Abihu, the record of whose intemperance and its results had been preserved in the parchments of the Pentateuch; and they knew that their own physical and mental power would be injuriously affected by the use of wine.

Daniel and his associates had been trained by their parents to habits of strict temperance. They had been taught that God would hold them accountable for their capabilities, and that they must never dwarf or enfeeble their powers. This education was to Daniel and his companions the means of their preservation amidst the demoralizing influences of the court of Babylon. Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court, but they remained uncontaminated. No power, no influence, could sway them from the principles they had learned in early life by a study of the word and works of God.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Thank you Tonya, for sharing inspiring parenting insights.  You can read more at Tonya’s blog, Momma’s Sunshine.

 

He Gave All

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The gift of God to man is beyond computation. Nothing was withheld. God would not permit it to be said that He could have done more, or revealed to humanity a greater measure of love. In the gift of Christ He gave all heaven.
-How God’s Love is Manifested, Part 1
by Ellen G. White

Mrs. Manoah’s Sunshine

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The inquiry of every father and mother should be, “What shall we do unto the child that shall be born unto us?” The effect of prenatal influences has been by many lightly regarded; but the instruction sent from heaven to those Hebrew parents, and twice repeated in the most explicit and solemn manner, shows how this matter is looked upon by our Creator. Patriarchs and Prophets

Hopefully, every parent wants to give their child the best start in life. Manoah and his wife wanted to give Samson the best start in life. When Mrs. Manoah learned that she would have a child, she asked “What shall we do unto the child that shall be born unto us?”

The counsel back was to:

1. Not eat anything unclean

2. Not to drink any strong drink or wine

3. Observe all that God had commanded her

And, after practicing all those wonderful eating and drinking habits as an expectant mommy…continue to follow them long after the child/children have grown.

She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.-Judges 13:14

Mothers, Be Careful

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Mothers, be careful of your precious moments. Remember that your children are passing forward where they may be beyond your educating and training. You may be to them the very model of all that is good and pure and noble. Identify your interest with theirs.

If you fail in everything else , be thorough, be efficient here. If your children come forth from the home training pure and virtuous, if they fill the least and the lowest place in God’s great plan of good for the world, your life can never be called a failure and can never be reviewed with remorse.   —The Adventist Home, p. 267

Hannah’s Sunshine

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From the earliest dawn of intellect she had taught her son to love and reverence God and to regard himself as the Lord’s. By every familiar object surrounding him she had sought to lead his thoughts up to the Creator. When separated from her child, the faithful mother’s solicitude did not cease. Every day he was the subject of her prayers. Every year she made, with her own hands, a robe of service for him; and as she went up with her husband to worship at Shiloh, she gave the child this reminder of her love. Every fiber of the little garment had been woven with a prayer that he might be pure, noble, and true. She did not ask for her son worldly greatness, but she earnestly pleaded that he might attain that greatness which Heaven values–that he might honor God and bless his fellow men. – Patriarchs and Prophets

Hannah’s Sunshine:

1. She taught her son to love and reverence God.

2. She taught him that he belonged to God.

3. Everything in her home was to lead Samuel to thoughts of God, our Creator.

4. She prayed for him night and day that he would be pure, noble, and true.

5. She made him a coat of service as a reminder of her love.

The Sunshine of Courtesy

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Above all things else, let parents surround their children with an atmosphere of cheerfulness, courtesy, and love.   Ministry of Healing pg. 386

Yesterday, I took my younger children to a swimming party. While waiting in line, a mother, father and two little children passed in front of me as I waited at the desk. The mother said to the older child (about 5 years old), “Say excuse me honey.” The little girl happily said “Excuse me”.

That may sound trivial to some, but I thought that was the sweetest kindest thing! First that the mom took the time to say excuse me herself and then kindly had her child say it as they passed. Beautiful.

Too many times at stores, I have had people step right in front of me as though I was not there. It is a very rude practice.

So, I experienced another “Momma’s Sunshine” in my own life yesterday and thought I would share that with you.

I guess “Momma’s Sunshine” can affect adults too.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works

 

 

Tonya shares more about sunshine in the home on her blog, Momma’s Sunshine