Do you want your kids to be happy with their marriages, with their families, and with their careers? Of course, you do.
I want the same for my boys. But I also know that happiness can be fleeting. Life can be unpredictable and circumstances could turn their world upside-down in a heartbeat.
Which is why I hope and pray for them to find joy. Joy will see them through trials and difficulties with faith and a determination to keep their confidence in Jesus – to trust that He remains with them in and through it all.
How do you raise your children to live life with joy?
Dr. Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey are joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to help you teach your child to embrace strong values that bond them to God and you through joy instead of fear.
They share four habits for raising joy-filled children:
- Attuning – Come alongside your children in a way that communicates that their feelings do not overwhelm you and that you are happy to be with them.
- Building Bounce – Infuse your children with resiliency that helps them grow their capacity for joy, like a ball that’s filled with air will bounce.
- Correcting with Care – Effective parenting is a lot like coaching. Whose interest do you have in mind? Yours? Or your child’s?
- Developing Disciplines Relationally – Teach your children to experience life as an adventure. The more skill your children have to navigate life, the more freedom they’ll enjoy.
If your family needs a spark to fill your home with joy, but you’re not sure where to begin, tune in for my full conversation with Dr. Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.
Dr. Warner is the president of Deeper Walk International. Chris is an ordained minister and pastoral counselor.
Before I close, I’d like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey book The 4 Habits of Raising Joy-Filled Kids: A Simple Model for Developing Your Child’s Maturity — at Every Stage as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).