Chapter 4: Developing Character

If our goal is to raise children into adults who love God and others passionately, then our two main jobs are to foster faith and instill character. The two go hand in hand-character grows in the soil of Faith. The below principles are from interviews Barna did with Revolutionary parents. These are the things they think made a difference:

• Start When Your Children Are Young


• Create A Plan


• Make Time to Talk with Your children about character


• Provide structure


• Don't let your own needs dominate

1. Take some time to think about each of your children. How would you describe each one's personality, strengths, and weaknesses?

2. What roles (such as attending church each week, spending time with extended family, being home for family dinners) or household tasks (such as cleaning their room or taking out the trash ) do your children know they're expected to do consistently?

3. Which is more important to you: To see your children outperform the other children in their classes or to see them love the other children in their classes?

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

If you had trouble with question 1 because your children's unique traits aren't clear to you , what can you do to make time over the next week to spend time with them, observe them, and reflect on what they're like?