by Donna | Jan 28, 2011
If Christian character is “living the way the Bible says to live (loving, kind, helpful, pure, responsible, selfless, compassionate, etc.)” and “exhibiting Christian character is fulfilling Scriptures that have to do with the Christ-following lifestyle, specifically the ‘one anothers’ of Scripture; verses dealing with how we treat people; etc,” then character training is training children to live in those ways. That is, training them to live biblically—as loving, kind, responsible, resourceful, helpful, compassionate, selfless, empathetic, wise people.
Christian character training will have as its goal to train children to become “adults who love God first, others second, and self last—and who walk this out in their daily lives.”
Why? The why is coming in the next few days.
How? Some ideas on how will follow in February. Thanks for joining us!
by Donna | Jan 27, 2011
Looking at Christian character from a biblical standpoint, it would be safe to say, rather simplistically, that “Christian character is living the way the Bible says to live (loving, kind, helpful, pure, responsible, selfless, compassionate, etc.).”
“’Bad’ character is living in a way opposite to what the Bible says, but similarly to what our natural man, or sin nature, (and our world most of the time) says—looking out for number one; selfish; impure; etc.).”
In this way, exhibiting Christian character is fulfilling Scriptures that have to do with the Christ-following lifestyle, specifically the “one anothers” of Scripture; verses dealing with how we treat people; etc., including, but not limited to, the following types of verses:
“ … love your neighbor as yourself … “ Mark 12:31 NJKV.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12 NIV.
“In love of the brethren, be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one to another” Romans 12:10 ASV.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so” Proverbs 3:27 NKJV.
Thanks for joining us. Tomorrow we continue the 5 W’s of Character Training in the Christian home with “What is character training?”
by Donna | Jan 26, 2011
“Character is how you act over and over again when you think only your family is looking.”
One definition of character that shows us that character is simply qualities (good or bad) that a person exhibits is “The combination of qualities, or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another.” Thus, when we think of character, we should consider that a person could have good “qualities or features” or bad “qualities or features.”
Our personal favorite “real” definition (as opposed to the ones we make up!) is “the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life that determine his or her responses regardless of circumstances.” The last three words point to our teaching of character training in the Christian family. That is, that a person’s true character (good or bad qualities) will be revealed in various situations—and the qualities that the individual is “characterized by” (or known for) are those that are exhibited over and over again, regardless of what situation he or she finds himself in.
Of course, there are maxims for character everywhere with the popular one being “Character is what you are like when you think nobody is looking.” In our belief that character is formed within the walls of the home and in the midst of the familial relationships, our maxim differs somewhat from that one: “Character is how you act over and over again when you think only your family is looking.”
In other words, how you behave in your own home over and over again—how you treat your siblings, your children, and your spouse; what types of responses you have to the situations you find yourself in; etc., are truly what you are like. These are the qualities that you are “characterized by,” or known by (at least by those who see you when others do not).
The whole idea of being “characterized by” something is important to note in the character training of our children. When someone mentions one of my children, the qualities that he or she mentions (or at least thinks) are those qualities that my child is “characterized by.” We tell our children that they will never be perfect—and we do not expect perfection. However, they should be “characterized by” (or known by) good qualities rather than bad.
In that regard, character is “the qualities that you are ‘characterized by’ within your own home.” And the goal in Christian parenting should be to raise children who are “characterized by” exhibiting the character of Jesus Christ at home (primarily) and everywhere (eventually)—because they are first and foremost, followers of Jesus Christ.
Follow us this year for a year of character training help. Believe it or not, we really do have a year’s worth of things to say about character training! Smile…Think of it as “Character Training Workshop in Ten or Fifteen Minutes a Day”! Thanks for joining us!
by Donna | Jan 21, 2011
“Character is what you are like when only your family is looking!”
Coming up next week: Diving into character training for children! We will go in this order throughout the year, for those wanting a certain topic or age group:
1. General character training—for a month or so
2. Starting Out Right—the Four Essential Qualities for Toddlers
3. Character Qualities for Pre-schoolers
4. Character for Kids—ages 5-8
5. More Character for Kids—ages 6-10
6. Tweens Can Have Good Character!
7. So Can Teens!
Think of it as “Character Training Workshop in Ten or Fifteen Minutes a Day”! Thanks for joining us!
by Donna | Jan 1, 2011
“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Our children will do to and for others whatever we have done to and for them.” Donna Reish…okay, so I’m not Bonhoeffer…but I thought of this quote before I read his! LOL!
I challenged myself in 2010 to write about aspects of Christian parenting every day of the year—and I made it! Sometimes due to busy travel schedules or motels with no internet, I had to double up here and there—but the point is that I posted 365 times about something very important to me: being Christian moms and dads to the wonderful children entrusted to our care.
Thanks for joining us. I pray that you will have a blessed new year. And that you will join us in 2011 for our character training focus!
And remember: “Our children will do to and for others whatever we have done to and for them.”
by Donna | Dec 31, 2010
Tomorrow is the last day of 2010! And the 365th day of the first year of Positive Parenting 3*6*5! I want to thank our readers and subscribers who have made this year so enjoyable for me as a writer. I also want to give you a sneak preview of the coming year here at Positive Parenting.
We are going to keep the name Positive Parenting 3*6*5 (although we will only post on weekdays next year) simply because I don’t want to “start from scratch” with a new name, url, etc.
I am excited about Positive Parenting in 2011—because you are going to be our “test” audience for many of our points from “Character Training From the Heart”! Yep, we are going to have a character training focus at least for the first part of the year (and probably much longer!).
So invite your friends to join us! But beware—the first few weeks of “how to’s” of character training are going to focus on the beginning of character training—modeling and having the character of Christ ourselves first! Happy new year!
