Grace-Based Parenting

better. The power of a secure love tells you where you are. You are ground zero in the middle of God’s grace, surrounded by a caring and honoring family that accepts you. They communicate that love through meaningful touch, encouraging words, and sacrificial actions.

wise parents teach their children how to love, how to be forthright, how to be transparent with close friends, how to confront, and how to forgive. All that said, it must be added that building a significant purpose into your children invariably guarantees that some people won’t like them. People of purpose annoy—even infuriate—those who want to co

One of the great things about God’s grace is the safe haven it offers to a transparent heart. He doesn’t require masks in His throne room. I know. I’ve been there.

Our children need this kind of grace. Their confusing lives cry out for our

Anything—minus hope—equals nothing. Hope is the human equivalent of oxygen when it comes to a person’s ability to live effectively. Take it away, and everything else becomes irrelevant. Without hope it is impossible to live a balanced life. Far worse, without hope, people surrender too soon and die too young.

suggest a definition of love that can radically change your life. This definition of love can help you choose the right thing to do when dealing with your children. It helps you make hard choices and it encourages you when the cost of loving is high. Here’s my definition: Love is the commitment of my will to your needs and best interests, regardles

Discipline is one of the key tools God has given to help us groom our children for greatness. To avoid disciplining your child because it makes you feel uncomfortable is to say you love your own best interests more than theirs. Grace-based parents want to see the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” growing in their adult children. The time to plant t

sensitive touch. God gives us just enough of a head start to bring perspective and understanding to the fragile needs of our kids.

You might have children who are the life of the party, automatic leaders, shy, inquisitive, born doubters, soft-spoken, loud, quick to tears, stubborn, easily distracted, or very serious. Grace can be one of the best tools you use to help them live out these personality quirks in balanced ways. PARTING WORDS

One of the great general purposes you can transfer to your children is the goal of being a wisdom hunter. Wisdom is seldom available to the young, but it’s made available sooner rather than later when we see that part of our role as parents is to teach our children how to turn knowledge into practical truth and insight. That’s all wisdom is—knowled