One of the best things we’ve seen in a long time is a recent press conference by the University of Oklahoma Women’s Softball team that has gone viral just prior to winning their 3rd National Championship.
These young women displayed the kind of conviction and character that, as parents, we want for our own children. It’s about finding meaning and fulfillment in living a life filled with virtue and faith; a contagious faith that is presented and shared with respect and humility.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – 1 Peter 3:15
Our children are God’s gift to us. It is a gift that parents must steward to the best of their ability. Most parents intuitively know that we must educate them with all the practical knowledge that will help them to lead productive adult lives, but how often do we consider educating our child’s heart and soul?
Heart and soul training goes beyond the practical. It teaches the “Moral Reason Why” behind our actions, behaviors and beliefs. It provides a child with a greater truth that is bigger than themselves. It is biblical truth that equips, encourages and sustains a child even into adulthood.
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6
Studies shows that children who have a positive active faith are, “40 percent less likely to use and abuse substances, 60 percent less likely to be depressed as teenagers, and 80 percent less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex compared with other teenagers.”
Hearing from these impressive young women from OU, you can tell that they were raised by parents that were intentional about heart and soul training. But intentionally raising your children in biblical truth requires more than just an occasional acknowledgement of God. It means you must create a lifegiving home environment where faith is a priority and a meaningful part of the family’s identity. Here are some questions to think about as you consider heart and soul training:
- Where am I (Mom & Dad) in my relationship with God? What am I modeling for my family?
- Do I need to grow in the knowledge of my faith?
- What are the steps I need to take to create a life giving home environment that prioritizes faith?
These questions apply to all parents regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey. For some of you, maybe going to church is the first step. For others, it might be adding bible reading and prayer time after dinner. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, please make it a priority to move forward in heart and soul training your children in biblically based truth!
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” -3 John 1:4
When our boys were very little, we were exposed to some high school and college aged kids that had the confidence and joy that these OU students displayed. It made a huge impact on us! We decided then and there that we wanted our boys to grow up with the same impressive confidence and joy. In addition to taking parenting classes, we recommitted ourselves to be more intentional about growing and sharing our own faith with our boys. That decision was the most significant change we made in our parenting journey. Through elementary school, the teen years and college, our boys (and us) thrived in this life giving home environment based upon biblical truth.
When you watch this video, what do you see? Is that confidence and joy what you want for your children? Our families can be inspired by this remarkable team and their accomplishments on the field, but they have shown us so much more in how to win the game of life!
Blessings to your family,
Shelly & Rich
Please feel free to reach to us if you have any questions or wish to discuss your next steps in heart and soul training!
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Summer Parenting Workshop Series, Class & Marriage Assessment/Checkup
Information and Registration is now available for all of our Summer Programs!
Learn More at: https://onefamilyhwl.org/events/
Summer Parenting Workshop Series
Sundays 7:00-8:00pm MT – (6:00pm PT, 8:00pm CT, 9:00pm ET)
Each workshop is 2 sessions per month – 1 hr per session
If you need to miss a session (i.e. vacation), all workshops will be recorded and available to view via our private OneFamily YouTube Channel.
- 7/9 & 16 – Screens and Parenting in the Digital Age – Gain understanding of the neurological/behavioral aspects of Screens and examine some ideas to help parents develop a strategy for recreational screen time – Toddler through Teen!
- 8/6 & 13 – Conveying Sexual Knowledge to Your Children – Discover how to approach conveying sexual knowledge to your children as soon as 6 years of age and through the tweens. This is a great introduction to our Protecting the Innocence of Childhood class.