Parenting as many of us know it has changed drastically over the years. The strict guidance and supervision that many of us were reared under as children ourselves, has become almost transparent in today’s society.  We now see a growth of youth who are driven by their own set of rules and morals, which hardly relate to the teachings of their parents. Many of these youth have chosen to model after rap stars, movie moguls, gang members, and a host of other unworthy individuals. Perhaps their poor choices in choosing role models have thus led them to the disappointing pathways their lives have taken……criminal convictions, poor grades, disrespect towards adults, open deviance, and a host of other negatives.

As the parent of three children, I have found it true that the bible holds the essential keys needed to produce effective parenting.  It is a key tool that every parent, young or old, needs in order to become a success. The bible is filled with stories of triumph, messages of faith, and great role models like Noah, Job, and Abraham, just to name a few.  The list of great characters goes on and on. Most importantly, the bible is filled with standards for parents to live by as they govern their children into adulthood.

Unfortunately, many parents have chosen to stray away from God’s holy word and invent their own style of parenting.  Each time one picks up the newspaper and sees another fallen youth, it makes you reflect as to whether the invented styles of parenting are truly effective.

I receive numerous compliments from family members, as well as strangers, on how well-behaved my children are, and how much bible knowledge they have.  Even my 7-year old daughter enjoys bible reading and trivia.

My husband and I try to the best of our abilities to immerse our children in the word of God.  We accomplish this through their schooling at Liberty Christian Academy here in Selma, Alabama, their frequent attendance to bible study and church services at Salem Primitive Baptist, in Orrville, Alabama, and our DAILY family discussions about how the bible can be applied to our everyday lives.  Our parenting style……God’s parenting style, is winning in our lives! We are guided by our faith and assurance that God has a preordained plan for our children.  We do not seek to manipulate the plan, we simply follow it.  And yes, corporal punishment is a part of the plan.  We are firm believers that parents “must not spare the rod “when seeking to parent under God’s will.  This is not to say that is the only component of our parenting plan, but to let you, the reader know, that we do embrace this idea as well. It is always amazing to see parents who stand firmly against corporal punishment but insist that they stand deeply rooted in God’s word.  I view this as a desperate clash of values. It is like trying to grow a garden without ever seeking to weed it.

I would like to offer the following strategies for parents who wish to incorporate bible reading into their parenting plan:

Choose a bible hero. The character should exhibit good virtues.  Read about the character and focus on the character’s attributes. This can be done monthly, as a family.

Attend bible study at your church.  Weekly bible study meetings will afford parent and child the opportunity to develop a deeper knowledge of the bible and its importance.

Host bible trivia night. Assign passages from the bible to be read ahead of time.  Pop some popcorn, turn the television off, and play a game of bible trivia.  You would be surprised at how competitive and engaged your entire family will become in this activity.

Set goals.  Decide how many pages or sections of the bible you will read as a family.  Make your goals reasonable and attainable based on the schedules of both parent and child.

Participate in upcoming Vacation Bible School events.  Most VBS events focus on heroic people and places.

These places and events are usually ones with monumental implications for our lives.

Invite the pastor to dinner.  It used to be commonplace to have the pastor attend family dinners.  Revisiting this tradition would offer a fresh insight about the bible and instill greater respect of it.

Do independent reading.  Read a small portion of the bible each day.

Discuss what you read with your child. Ask your child what he or she thinks about what you read. Seek insight and involvement.

Andrea Curtis is a native of Selma and mother of three.