Conclusion of Bringing Up Our Children to Love Jehovah

 To my readers: I am doing these blogs close together today, because I will be going over to my sister's for dinner and that is a rare occasion for me.  These little towns are not close together, which is part of the reason why I do not get to go to my sister's very often. I also am getting them done, because I do not know what time I will be back home.  Enjoy and God bless you  all.

Many have asked what lies ahead behind such successful child rearing. Of course, there is no fixed formula for bringing up children, but we diligently  tried to instill love for Jehovah and neighbor in their hearts.  (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7; Matthew 22:37-39) The children learned that we cannot tell Jehovah  that we love him unless  our deeds show that we do. 

One day a week, usually Saturday, we participated in the ministry as a family. We regularly had a family Bible study on Monday evenings after dinner, and we also had  a Bible study with each individual child.  When the children were younger, we studied with each child for brief periods several times a week, and as they grew older, we had longer studies once a week.  During these studies, our children opened up and freely discussed their problems with us. 

We also enjoyed upbuilding recreation as a family. We liked playing musical instruments together, and each child love to play his or her favorite sons. Some weekends, we invited other families for upbuilding association.  We also took vacation trips as a family. On one such trip, we spent two weeks exploring the mountains of Colorado and working with the local congregations in the field ministry. Our children fondly remember working at district conventions in various departments and helping with Kingdom Hall construction in different places.  When we took the children to Greece to see their relatives, they were also able to  meet many faithful Witnesses who had been in prison for their faith.  This made a deep impression on them, helping them to resolve to remain steadfast and courageous for the truth.

Of course, at times some of the children misbehaved or made poor choices regarding association. At other times, we created problems for them by being perhaps overly restrictive in some areas.  But resorting to the "mental- regulating of Jehovah," as found in the Bible, helped set matter straight for all of us.  -Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 

Next time: The Happiest Time of My Life

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000