Character
So, what do we mean by building a moral character in your child?
Your first thought may be that you are not a religious person and so you are not about to indoctrinate your child with someone's religious beliefs.
Okay, I am with you. We will get back to that whole religion thing in a bit.
But, in the broadest sense, being a moral person doesn't necessarily mean we are talking about religion.
On the previous page, I mentioned that I do not want my children to be liars, thieves, murderers, etc. I am guessing we probably have that in common.
I am a follower of Christ and I am not ashamed of that. But, if you are not a fellow Christian, that doesn't mean we do not have a whole lot in common.
In the Bible, Jesus makes an amazingly simple statement.
"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Wow. I mean, it is so simple. Just treat other people the same way that you want to be treated. If we did that, with the exception of some total wackos out there, we would all pretty much get along...right?
So, I am going to just step aside here and say obviously the world appears to be a complicated place. But, most issues can truly be boiled down to how we treat one another and why. I am not trying to say that this works like magic, but it does work.
If your desire is for your child to grow into a moral person who treats others well...then it takes work on your part to teach them this behavior.
Going even further, what kind of man or woman do you want your child to be? I am not talking about his or her career or what not. I am talking about what kind of person you want him or her to grow into. There are particular things for men and particular things for woman because we were made equal, yet distinct.
Are you raising your son to be a good man, husband and father?
Are you raising your daughter to be a good woman, wife and mother?
If you think you have no influence on those outcomes, you are sadly mistaken.
Approximately 85% of kids in juvenile detention centers grew up in fatherless homes...
Fathers and mothers matter.
Character matters.
Take the time to really meditate on who you want your child to be. It is time well worth it.
I am afraid I cannot leave this discussion without a parting word on religion.
I have known several people in my lifetime who do not think they are religious. They do not believe they have a religion and that they are perfectly serene in their lack thereof.
Let me give you Dictionary.com's definition of Religion:
"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."
Now, you may not have any rituals (or maybe you do) that you participate in. But I guarantee you have a set of views about the causes of our world, our society and morality. You operate according to a set of principles. Those principles drive how you respond to the world around you.
As I said, I am a follower of Christ. I believe the Bible teaches us how to know the one true God. And, I believe the Bible explains with the most telling, and often unflattering, accuracy why the world is the way it is.
If you are not a Christian, than you are still likely following some of the principles that come from the Bible.
I mean, unless you like being robbed, beat up, or murdered. If you are in to those things, well, I can't really reason with you! 🙂
But, if you are an average person, who doesn't want to be robbed, beaten up or murdered, maybe you should ask if your worldview has an answer for those things?
Questions are some of my most favorite things....