“If we want better people to make a better world, then we will have to begin where people are made – the family”

Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck (Harvard) predicted future delinq-uency of children (ages 5-6) 89% accuracy

To Avoid Deliquency:

Father’s discipline: fair, firm, consistent

Mother’s supervision: what, where Father’s affection: demonstrate it Mother’s affection: show love, per-

haps even more than fathers Family’s cohesiveness: time

– Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck

I Motherhood: Woman’s Highest Calling

Failures Jg.17, Micah’s mother 1 K.15:13, Asa’s grandmother Mk.6:…24, Herodias

Successes

Gn.27:46, Rebekah Ex.2:1-3, Jochebed. Ac.5:29 1 Sm.1, Hannah 2 Tim.1:5, Eunice

II Temptations Of Mothers

1. Emphasize career over children 1 Tim.5:14

“There is an opening for a well-rounded, personable, patient, clean and neat, well-dressed, healthy (this requirement sometimes waived), and attractive individual. Long hours, low pay, fair working conditions, few fringe benefits, occasional vacation, no guaranteed holidays.

Applicant must have management ability, dietary knowledge, ability to drive, ability to sew, mechanical knowledge, and must show commitment to the position. No written test is required”

Tit. 2:3-5

The hand that rocks the cradle… Men are what their mothers have

made them The mother’s heart is the child’s

schoolroom The future destiny of the child is

always the work of the mother One good mother is worth a

hundred schoolmasters

2. Expect dad to discipline

“Spanking teaches violence”

*Contradicts Experience God gave us ability to feel pain When mom spanks child in

proper context, he learns boundaries: cross line, suffer consequences (pain)

*Contradicts Scripture

Pro.13:24, true love Pro.19:18, deadly leniency Pro.22:15, woodshed therapy Pro.23:13-14, Solomon’s brothers Pro.29:15, 17, rod, reproof, mom

1 Kings 1:5-6

*Unnatural for children to rule parents, Is.3:3-5

1 Pt.1:14 You must win the little battles

Pro.30:17 “Little children and headaches

…great children and heartaches”

*Paul practiced tough love, 1 Co.4:15; 2 Co.2:4

Paul’s children He didn’t let them make their

own rules True love is tough; it does

what is best

3. Neglect spiritual training, 2 Tim.1:5 (4:7, its value)

His faith was . . . in him (not tradition) in him (not mere profession) based on Scripture (3:15) Received by faith:

Example, Ac.16:1-3 Instruction. 2 Tim.3:15

Young mothers – Why keep coming?

Teaches children the importance of attendance

They learn patience, self-control, self-denial, perseverance, disci-pline, and obedience to God

They teach others