So your kids are getting older and youre worried about how to deal with the world outside your door. When you open it, youre flooded with a multitude of temptationsall inviting your children to join the new order of instant gratification. The seduction is hard enough for adults to deal with, so how can the underdeveloped Christian mind ever hope to resist. Especially when the dont understand the serious harm some of these things can do.

It Starts with Example

Needless to say, it all starts with example. Johnny might not buy into Mom and Dads strict life policies, but hell at least always remember it. Itll gnaw at the back of his conscience and continue to urge him towards holiness throughout his life.

And it works the other way too. A bad example from parents will always be an excuse for poor behavior from young adults. Think of how many times youve thought to yourself, My dad used to do itit cant be that bad.

But it Doesnt End There

Parenthood calls for more than example. After all, many selfless parents have raised selfish (spoiled) brats. There has to be more. There has to be some intervention. But how much? Do we keep them in a bubble until theyre eighteen? Or do we allow them to experience and learn from the world?

This subject is much too large for one article. But theres an important aspect to parenthood that was probably not passed on from our own parentsbecause when they were parents, it wasnt as big an issue.

The fact is, were no longer living in a Christian worldand we have to adjust our approach to life. We can no longer rely on any sort of rating system from the entertainment world. We cant trust that our schools (even the Catholic ones) are going to provide a Christian education.

This means that youll have to pay more attention and teach your kids what it means to be Christian. You have to make them realize that they are different. They have to feel separated from the rest of the world. At first, this could mean something as simple as teaching them not to pay attention to the Joness. But eventually, they need to know their unique position. They are children of Godand that carrys responsibility.

Telling them once isnt a cure-all. There has to be a continuing reminder that our duty to God comes first. And of course, itll only work with prayer and example.