March 10, 2013

  • '...Your thoughts...are the source of true life.' Proverbs 4:23 CEV

     Teach your child to ask themselves these two questions: (1) 'How will I feel afterwards?' What outlasts our decisions are the subsequent feelings of selfrespect versus shame, and positive selfworth versus negative selfworth. Our actions ultimately become history, but our thoughts about them continue to shape our future. 'Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.' Children with selfrespect are much less likely to indulge in promiscuous sex, drugs, drinking, antisocial and illegal behaviours. Selfrespect and selfworth are internal standards which we are loathed to violate. Giving in to selfish choices is like abandoning the moral core of our being - the sacred soul God gave us. (2) 'How will the people I value feel about me after this decision?' The trust and respect of others is always needed to succeed. Reputation trumps money, even in the secular marketplace. 'Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.' (Proverbs 22:1 NLT) Poor decisionmaking can earn us a reputation that'll haunt our prospects indefinitely. 'A person who plans (chooses) evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.' (Proverbs 24:8 NLT) When you get a negative reputation, it's hard to recover from it (Proverbs 25:10). The shortterm benefits of making poor decisions lead to longterm losses and regrets. The person God blesses must '...exercise selfcontrol, live wisely, and have a good reputation...' (1 Timothy 3:2 NLT)  Bill & Debby Gass