My Notes From Sally Clarkson's Session on Parenting

Yesterday I was a Hostess over at the Heart Of The Matter Online's Homeschooling Conference. I opened for Sally Clarkson (who will be a fellow speaker at the Relevant Conference in October - I am DYING to meet her!!) and I led a chat session after her session. If you missed it - here's the Cliffs Notes version!!!

First let me briefly fill you in on who Sally is. She is the homeschooling mother of 4 children - 3 are grown. She has multiple books published on Motherhood and she is a blog writer (I Take Joy) and a conference speaker.

Yesterday I was like a sponge, soaking in all of her Titus 2 wisdom so I thought I'd share with you a few of her key points that encouraged me!

1. Read great books to your children and introduce them to the best minds in the world.

2. Satan hates children. They are the next generation and he'll do anything to distract them with television, video games etc. Remember to continually prepare your children to serve God.

3. Create a foundation of love in your home. Teach them to obey the greatest commands, to love God and love others. Just as Jesus spent time with the disciples eating, laughing and doing life with them, as parents we must build bridges of love to our children's hearts. Live, laugh and do life together.

4. Establish a foundation of grace in your home. From Genesis to Revelation we see the grace of God revealed. Teach your children to offer God's grace to others - many times this is displayed through good manners.

5. Inspire your children. They were created to do good works. Find their talents and let them be who they are. Fill their hearts and minds with heroes and those who made a mark on this world for Jesus. Stand with your children through trials knowing that this is making them a stronger man or woman of God. Don't always protect them, let God build their character and grow them through their trials.


6. Teach your children scripture and live out a faithful story before them. They will have to be warriors for God one day and they are watching us. What are we role modeling? They need to see our passion for the Lord which gives them a foundation for their faith.

7. Train your children to be self-controlled, to work hard and long hours, to be creative and grow them into maturity. Be intentional about your training. This is a long process. Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." "When he is old" means when he grows a beard. This is a process. And remember - at what age did we become perfect? We are working towards maturity not perfection. Filter television. Be sure to fill their minds with truth.

8. Teach your children to serve others. Train them to take initiative in relationships. If you want to see them as a servant of God, you must incorporate it into their lives. Show them the needs of the world through missions, homeless shelters, serving your neighbors and opening your home. Do not let your children become the future Pharisees of America, teach them to serve.

"Training your children in Godliness is a lifestyle!"

Yesterday I wrote about some of my personal frustrations in parenting. Then as Sally spoke, God touched my heart and moved me to not only go the distance with my children in patience and perseverence but to go deeper with my children in faith, love, grace, inspiration, and service. Thank you Sally for oozing wisdom!

Walk with the King!

Check out all of Sally's resources at Whole Heart Ministries. After hearing her speak - I am heading over to this site to order Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide.