Although February is a popular time to preach on relationships, it doesn’t have to be only romantic relationships.
Parenting is one of the greatest blessings and one of the greatest pressures for the families in your church.
Every week, you preach to moms and dads who feel overwhelmed, underprepared, and unsure if they’re doing enough.
Today I’m giving you 1 stat, 1 quote, and 1 story to help you preach on parenting.
The average child laughs 300 times a day; the average adult laughs 20.
Source: Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-possibility-paradigm/201106/youre-not-laughing-enough-and-thats-no-joke
“If I had my child to raise over again… I’d do less correcting and more connecting.” – Diane Loomans
Source: This quote appears in Diane Loomans’ book Full Esteem Ahead: 100 Ways to Teach Values and Build Self-Esteem in Kids.
When Thomas Edison was a young boy, he came home from school and handed a sealed note to his mother. He told her, “My teacher gave this to me and told me only you are to read it.”
She opened the note and read it out loud to him:
“Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him, and we don’t have the right teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself.”
So, she did. Edison was homeschooled by his mother, Nancy, who believed in him deeply. She spoke life and encouragement over him daily, shaping the way he saw himself and the world. He went on to become one of the greatest inventors in history—with over 1,000 patents to his name.
Years later, after his mother had passed, Edison found that old note folded in a drawer. He opened it and read the real words his teacher had written:
“Your son is mentally ill and cannot be taught. He is not welcome back at this school.”
Edison wept for hours. His mother had spoken a new truth over him—not the one the world gave him, but the one she believed God had for him. And that one voice of faith changed the direction of his entire life.
Takeaway: Speak life and blessing over your children
Source: This story is widely repeated, but there is no historical documentation that it actually happened. It appears to be an inspirational legend attached to Edison after his death.
The Three Most Painful Mistakes Godly Men Make With Their Kids
A few weeks ago I received this email from Jon Tyson. I thought it would make a fantastic sermon, so I thought I’d share it with you in case you want to use it.
Parenting in America (Pew Research)
This article shares how the outlook, worries, and aspirations of American parents are strongly linked to their financial situation, with lower-income parents more likely to worry about violence, drugs, and educational opportunities for their children.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
If you haven’t read this book by Jonathan Haidt yet, you really should. He talks about the challenge facing the “phone-based childhood” generation, and the challenge we all face as parents trying to wisely manage technology in our homes.
I send emails just like this one to pastors every Monday. The goal is to help lighten the load of weekly preaching. I would love to add you to the list.
