Biblical Reasons for Teaching Your Children Manners

Welcome back!

“Mind your manners,” you may have heard the phrase uttered from you mother or grandmother a million times, but is it something that we as a society use today with our children? Manners seems to have gone by the way side much like other concepts that were so often used by those who have gone on before us.

We must get back to the basics of life and what is really important in life, especially back to our Biblical roots. The Bible teaches many of “life’s basics” one of which is manners. Surprised? Don’t be, God has a plan for every aspect of our lives, including manners. They after all were his idea in the first place. He set it forth beginning with the Golden Rule beginning in Matthew 7:12,

“Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

God also set forth instructions for us as parents about how we are to train our children, these scriptures include Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” We must do our part as parents and then leave the rest to God. However our part comes first. He commanded us in Deuteronomy that we were to model the actions that we wanted our child to have.

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you-they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32:46-47

This is living by the book, God’s Word, following his laws and precepts and teaching our children to do the same. As we often say to others, “it begins at home”. We must being by teaching our children the basic manners of “please” and “thank you” and expand into more social concepts such as, dining etiquette and social introductions.

What is in your heart comes out in your actions. We have Jesus in our hearts and we want to show others him by our actions. This is where manners can be of much importance. However, not only does this learning of manners do wonders for other people who are around your child, but also for their own self esteem and confidence as well. After all, with Christ in our childrens’ hearts and lives they can have all the confidence they need and when they present themselves as Godly and respectful individuals to others they can shine brightly. What mother wouldn’t be proud of that?

Wish you had the opportunity to teach manners to the children of today?  There is an awesome opportunity for Christian women over at Become a Manner’s Mentor that will allow you to do just that.  What an opportunity to invest in children.

Menu Plan Monday – February 8

I haven’t done a Menu Plan Monday in quite some time, though I do enjoy them and I always menu plan so it should be an easy thing to keep up with.  Here’s my menu for this week.  By the way, I am starting to use E-Mealz.com to help with menu planning and to save some money as they are known to help you do both. 

This week’s menu:

1. Grilled salmon, wild rice, green beans.

2. Hamburger Steaks, cabbage, mashed potatoes.

3.  Chili dogs, fries

4.  Grilled chicken sandwiches, homemade fries.

I’ll likely add to this, as I shop on Wednesday’s and haven’t shopped for this week yet.  Plus, I’m using the new E-Mealz plan.  Excited about that.  Have you checked it out yet?  Dave Ramsey recommends it.

**This post contains affiliate links to E-mealz.  I receive a commission if you purchase a plan with E-mealz via this link.

I Love It When . . .

A plan actually works.  I am a planner by nature. I love to plan. I love to make lists.  I love to cross things off of lists, and yes I’ve even been known to write something on a list JUST to cross it off.  Go ahead, laugh.

Today I planned to work on client work and double up this week so that I don’t have to work next week during Christmas.  I got lucky and the kids went to Granny’s and I had a few hours of quiet and sanity.  It worked beautifully and for 1/2 of my clients now 2 weeks worth of work has been done.  Now, if Thursday can go just as well, I’ll be set.

Then it is time to plan my 2010.  Can’t wait. I love to plan.  Set goals, dream!

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