Dear parents, what kind of child, are you raising? What legacy are you giving your children? Are you teaching them the ways of the Lord? Are you raising a Godly seed or are you letting the society, friends, relatives and the internet dictate to you how to raise your child? A child is a gift from God and it is your responsibility as a parent to raise your child in a right way. Proverbs 22:6 says: “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. My dear parents, develop a relationship with God so that you can influence your child to have a relationship with God too. Let your child know that he or she is fearfully and wonderfully made, teach them to know who they are in Christ and take their place. Speak positively into your child’s life, stop using negative and derogative comments on your children, remember that there is power in the tongue, teach them to pray. Your child is not too young to do exploits for God, remember David and Goliath, Samuel who heard the voice of God as a young boy, Joseph who trusted God despite going through trials and he never compromised, even the boy who gave Jesus the fish and bread – he knew the Master needed it and was willing to give. My dear parents, beware of what your child does on the internet or what he or she watches on the television, even the kind of books they read; teach them to know what is right and what is wrong, so that we you are not there, they will make right decisions.
Do your children trust you? Do they confide in you? Who do they talk to when they are in trouble? Do they talk to their friends? Did they talk to you? Do you even know how to ask God for help? My dear parents, stop having favourites among your children, love them all equally and always correct them with love, bring them to Church at all times and make sure they are not playing when the homily or prayers are going on. My dear parents, what do you need from God while raising that child, if you need money, He will provide for you; if you need wisdom, He is the only wise God. I you need help, He’s your helper. In times of weakness, He will be your strength even when your family and friends forsake you, He will never leave you. My dearest parents, raise up godly seed, raise up a generation that will proclaim Jesus to the world, a generation that will do exploits for God because they know their God. My fellow mummies and daddies, I challenge you today raise up godly seed. Raise up generals for Christ. God bless you.
• Okoye Ifunanyachukwu Mildred is a member of MCA, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Isheri Olofin, Isolo Deanery
