Raising Heavenly Children on Earth

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Raising Heavenly Children on Earth
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Children are a gift from God.Psalm 1273
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Our business in this worldis to see what
virtues we can teach our children and our
families to possess, that they shall have an
influence upon othersEllen G. White, Adventist
Home, p. 32
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Values and Character

• Values are our belief system.
• Character is the activation of our values.

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Dont say things. What you are stands over you
the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear
what you say to the contrary. Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Letters and Social Aims Merriam-Webster,
I. (1992). The Merriam-Webster dictionary of
quotations (53). Springfield, MA
Merriam-Webster.
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Activity

• Have a participant write a seven-sentence speech
  they would like one of their children (when
  grown) to give about them.
• Include the personality characteristics they now
  possess (the ones you would like them to be noted
  for).
• What core values did they cherish from their
  upbringing?

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Some Qualities We Want to See in Our Children

• Fair
• Honest
• Trustworthy
• Forgiving
• Empathy and caring for others

• Respectful of others rights
• Respectful of legitimate authority
• Responsible for their own behavior
• Capable of generosity and love

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Emotional Intelligence What is it?

• Emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) is ones
  ability to control their emotions.
• It is being emotionally aware and having the
  ability to manage your emotions even in stressful
  situations.
• Researchers have found that EQ is more predictive
  of ones success in life than IQ.
• EQ leads to happiness in all areas of life,
  including family relationships.

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Emotional Intelligence Why is it important?

• Character development is not intrinsic unless one
  is emotionally aware.
• The ability to handle ones emotions under all
  circumstances is the true test of ones
  character.
• Helping children to manage their emotions is key
  to them becoming responsible and caring adults.

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Parents as Emotion Coaches

• Become aware of the childs emotion.
• Recognize the emotion as an opportunity for
  intimacy and teaching.
• Listen empathetically, validating the childs
  feelings.
• Help the child find words to label the emotion he
  or she is having.
• Set limits while exploring strategies to solve
  the problem at hand.

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We Are Not Alone
Jesus Himself, in His infinite mercy, is working
on human hearts, effecting spiritual
transformations so amazing that angels look on
with astonishment and joy. --Ellen White, 5
Testimonies, p. 731
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Building a Bridge fromChristian Values to
Christian Behavior

• Respect is critical.
• Actions speak louder than words.
• Values must be seen and heard.
• A capacity to think is essential.
• Love is foundational.

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Love is. . .

• Focused attention
• Time
• Support
• Connectedness
• Limits
• Commitment

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Appreciating the Gift
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ELLEN WHITE STATES IT WELL
If Christian parents will present to society
children with integrity of character, with firm
principles, and sound morals, they will have
performed the most important of all missionary
labors. Their children, thoroughly educated to
take their places in society, are the greatest
evidence of Christianity that can be given to the
world. Child Guidance, p. 163