August 21: Training Tiny Arrows

 Training Tiny Arrows 

Key Text: Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Dr. Terry- Ann Robinson, 
Kings SDAChurch

One of the games my husband and I enjoy playing is Dart. We are not experts, but we try desperately to hit the bullseye. He is often so much better than I am. I try to imitate his stance, keeping my eyes right on the center. But sometimes the wind comes and blows my dart in a direction I did not intend for it to go. 

Training our children can be like playing Darts. Regardless of our best attempts, sometimes they go in a direction we do not expect. 

The Bible’s instruction to us as parents is: 'Train up a child in the way he should go.' This job of training is no easy task. It is 24 hours, 7 days per week, through good times and bad, whether we feel to, or not. 

Here are three parenting lessons from the game of Darts. 

Lesson 1: Watch your stance 

In Dart, a stable stance provides a solid foundation for accuracy and precision. Different stances can affect the trajectory of the dart.

In parenting, it is important to have intentional activities and principles in the home that are designed to build our children’s character. A stance that’s not founded on the principles of God’s word will lead to the wrong path. Be clear on the decisions you make. Have non-negotiables. What are the key principles you wish to embed in your children? Establish praying together, Bible reading, and private devotional time as family traditions. Take a stance about what is listened to, what is watched, what is done in your home, and how much time is spent doing it. 

Declare like Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 

Lesson 2: Grip

The way you grip the dart can affect how it's released. A grip that is too tight can lead to tension, affecting the throw. A grip that’s too loose will result in the Dart falling before hitting the board. 

To achieve the correct grip is a struggle in parenting. We want to hold the reins on our children, but how much is too much? 

I propose a tight rein with a gradual release. I have 2 children and they are as different as night and day. While one can be allowed to go almost without supervision, let’s just say the other one is still in training. The reins must be held with some amount of firmness. Be vigilant, ask God for a discerning spirit. Even when we believe they are able to manage independently, we may observe behaviors that indicate they should be reined in, given some additional training, or reinforcement of previously taught lessons. Children will do the unexpected, so as parents, we should set the standard and correct those unexpected behaviors. 

Lesson 3: Don’t limit your rounds. 

The number of rounds in an amateur dart game is not significant. You can try as many times as you wish. The more rounds you play, the more comfortable you get and the better you become. 

Applying discipline is sometimes harder for us parents than for the children. But discipline is necessary. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews‬ 12‬:6‬. Don’t give up implementing strategies that will help to develop discipline in your children. Too often, children are left to their own demise because parents believe that what they have tried 1, 2, or 3 times didn’t work. Keep trying. Change the strategy if you need to, but don’t leave the children to their own will. The truth is that if we don’t do the training the devil has enough agents that are ready to jump in and do the job. ‬‬‬‬

Remember your divine responsibility - train up the child in the way he should go. 

Prayer 

Dear Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life. All children belong to you. You have given us the responsibility to train them in the way they should go. Help us as we strive to fulfill this divine mandate. Give us a spirit of discernment, give us wisdom, and give us all we need as we renew our commitment to train our children in Your way. Amen.