About 15 years ago (when my oldest daughter, Tabitha, was a year old), I was asked the question: “What is your plan for discipling your children?”
Over the years, I have come to realize that the most important people I will disciple are my own children. All. Children. Matter. None matter as much as the children that God has entrusted to you in your own home.
Deuteronomy 6: 1-9 offers some promises and a prescription. I encourage you to read those verses. In the meantime, I wanted to share, on a very practical level, my approach to being strategic in the way I disciple my own children. I call it R.E.I. (yes, I’m well aware that REI is the name of an outdoor adventure outfitter…appropriate because raising kids should be a great adventure!)
R Relationships — It takes a village to raise children and I encourage you to surround yourself and your children with friends that share the same values and will link arms on the adventure. Studies have shown that if your children are connected to 6 adults who share your same core beliefs and values there is a great increase in the chances of them adopting that value system.
E Experiences — Life transformation happens through experiences (especially when those experiences are shared with a group of people that you have linked arms and are doing life with).
I Information — Often times, the experiences will generate questions. This is a great opportunity to share solid biblical information with your kids.
Ultimately, I believe our goal as parents should be to say to our children, “Follow my example. I am doing my best to love Jesus with all my heart and soul and might.” If you asked your kids today, “What matters most to mommy and daddy?” How would they answer?