7 lessons parents can learn from kids

7 lessons parents can learn from kids May 29, 2015

Dave and Ashley Willis family kids

In the ancient world, children were not treated with the value and dignity we typically give our kids today. Children were seen as little more than a nuisance to endure until they got old enough to do something useful to contribute to the family’s livelihood. When Jesus came on the scene two thousand years ago, that all changed.

As Jesus taught in public, kids would run up to him and the grownups would rush in to try and pull the kids away, but Jesus always made a point to include and encourage the children. Jesus even went so far as to make the revolutionary claim that adults could actually learn some important lessons from children. Our kids possess some beautiful traits we once possessed, and we were never meant to lose.

I’ve written pretty extensively about the lessons parents must teach their children and the things your kids will remember most about you, but I also believe that there are lessons parents should learn from children. As I’ve studied what the Bible teaches about family dynamics, learned lessons from experts in our modern culture and absorbed experience from life with our own four children, I’m convinced that we could learn the following lessons from children better than grownups...

1. Keep asking questions.

I read a stat recently that says, on average, kids ask 125 questions per day which is more than ten times the amount of questions asked by the average adult. As adults, we’re so afraid of looking like we don’t know everything that we stop asking (which means we stop learning).

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.Matthew 7:7

2. Be yourself.

Kids aren’t worried about looking “impressive.” They just want to express themselves and discover who they were created to be. Be real. There’s nothing more impressive than authenticity.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Dave Willis quote be yourself God made you awesome

 

3. Laugh more.

Laughter is good medicine. It promotes physical and emotional health, but most adults don’t do it enough. Kids laugh more in a day than most adults do in a month. Adults specialize in “Drama,” but kids are all about the comedy.

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.Job 8:21

4. Don’t stress.

Kids don’t worry and stress the way grownups do. Sure, you could argue, that’s because they have grownups taking care of everything, but Jesus taught that God is ultimately taking care of us, so we shouldn’t worry either.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.Philippians 4:6

Dave Willis davewillis.org quote the stuff you're stressing about won't be a big deal ten years from now trust God

5. Don’t judge people.

All our prejudices are learned. Kids aren’t born with any kind of racism, sexism or other -isms that would cause them to treat others differently or judge someone based on appearance. Sadly, they learn their prejudices from us.

Dave Willis quote God made variety in skin tones souls are the same color

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.Galatians 3:28

6. Have pure faith.

Childlike faith is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. Jesus wasn’t teaching us to abandon our intellects in favor of blind faith, but he was challenging us to approach God as the loving Father He is. Kids trust their parents (even though parents are imperfect). We need to have a childlike faith and trust in the perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful Heavenly Father.

“Jesus called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3

Dave Willis quote choose faith instead of fear life fun

7. Have Fun!

Kids never take themselves too seriously, so they’re free to enjoy life with uninhibited joy and wonder. We grownups could stand to lighten up and enjoy life a bit more!

For daily encouragement, you can connect with me on Facebook by clicking here and also connect with me on twitter.

If this post helped you, please share it using the links below so we can help others too!


Browse Our Archives