Parents, Here’s Three Things That Every Child Needs To Hear From You Everyday

Parents, our children are facing multiple crisis on a daily basis. 

There is a moral crisis. It is the consequence of the erosion of absolute truth. Right and wrong is now determined by the individual and not from God’s Word as Biblical truth is deemed old-fashioned and even hateful. When truth is removed from society, people do what is right in their own eyes and chaos is the result. 

There is a spiritual crisis. A current trend in today’s young generation is deconstruction. It’s where deeply held beliefs and values are reconsidered, often leading to a complete abandoning of one’s faith altogether. This is a result of a generation that is not being rooted and grounded with a biblical worldview and taught critical thinking.

There is an identity crisis. This generation is encouraged to find themselves in their emotions or through experimentation. Feelings are elevated over facts. This has led to the culture that questions even the very basics of their identity.

Parents, we are raising our children in turbulent times and in troubled waters. However, we have been given God’s Word which holds truth and wisdom to raise our children during these times. 

There is a powerful example for us to follow In Matthew 3:17. In this passage, the Father speaks three very important words over His Son that every child needs to hear. As Jesus has been baptized the heavens open, and the Father speaks, “This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased.”

That’s a word of identification, affirmation, and validation.

Identification – “this is my Son.” Before Jesus preaches a message, performs a miracle, gathers His disciples, or does any of the things that you and I often associate with His identity,  the Father speaks over Him and says, “this is my Son.” The world is quick to tell your children who they are, but identification can only come from our creator. It’s our job as parents to reinforce that identity in the words that we speak over our children.

Affirmation – “whom I love.” Every single one of us needs to hear on a regular basis that we are loved. The healthiest place for a child to grow up is in a home with their mother and father who regularly affirm them and lets them know that they are loved. The world has its own definition for what love is and it is based on being selfish and lustful. True love is sacrificial. It’s a choice to prefer another above all else. Our children need to hear “I love you” from us on a regular basis.

Validation – “with you I am well pleased.” Why would the Father say He is pleased with His Son when Jesus had not yet done any miracles or preached any message for the Father to be proud of? Performance wasn’t necessary for the Father to be proud of His Son, He was simply pleased with Him because He was His Son. The same is true with us. God’s pleasure rests over us simply because of who we are. Our children need to hear regularly from us that we are proud of them and that we are pleased with them. No, their behavior may not be perfect, but their behavior doesn’t define who they are. They are our children. We love them. We are proud of them.

Today, let me encourage you to let your kids hear from you. Whether your child is in the home or out of the home, tell them, send them a text, or call them and say, “I just want you to know, you’re my son/daughter. I deeply love you and I’m proud of you.” These three phrases are powerful and will help root and ground your children with a foundation that allows them to thrive. 

This Sunday we will conclude our “Roots” series with a message entitled, “Rooted in Hope.” We have received such great feedback from this series and I trust you’ll find the conclusion to be both powerful and helpful.

Believing for Revival,

Pastor