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            Children communicating with their parents every day, about anything that is on their mind, or certainly about something that is troubling or upsetting to them, is important and necessary.  This constant communication is vital in the parent/child relationship of a Christian home, and would be following God’s plan for raising a godly family.

            Parents communicating with their children all the time, every day, every evening, and on any subject, is extremely important for the children to learn Christ-like values and attitudes.  And, before there can be any success with that relationship with a child, we must first be communicating with God through fervent prayers for divine guidance.  The Holy Spirit will enable us to communicate with our children in an effectual and scriptural manner.

            Parents are to train their children Ephesians 6:4 “in the nurture [training; instruction; discipline] and admonition [advice] of the Lord.”  They are to be constantly communicating instructions and counsel to their children, and proper ways to respond, talk, and treat each other, as it is all part of Christian training of their characters.

            A child is to never stop communicating with their parents—regardless of their age or situation in life.  Children begin to communicate with parents and older siblings as soon as they begin to form words and have the ability to express themselves.  This communicating continues all through the child’s growing years and beyond—and is to be about any subject, incident, or experience.

            As children communicate with their parents and/or older adults, the opportunity is given for the adult to guide them scripturally on any given matter; to advise them how to respond; or to enable the child to decide on what to do about something that is of concern to them.  The parents have the wisdom, experience, and mature judgment to give scriptural advice.

            Parents must be sure they give their prime time and their personal attention to every child, and sending the message to them that they want to know how their day went—asking them if anyone said anything or did anything to upset them.  Most problems, especially of a personal nature, go unreported, as the child is ashamed to say anything.  The parent must ask, and in private—making the child feel comfortable to say whatever may be on their mind.  1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient.”  This time given to every child is a priority.

            If a young child, school student, or teenager, has been offended by someone; insulted while playing a game; wronged by another; or been abused in any way, that incident should be communicated to their parents or caretaker right away.  The child can then be advised on how to react or respond in a scriptural manner.

            A child should not keep any important matter to themselves, but should share the incident with a parent without delay for their advice on the matter.  A child is honoring their parents when they tell them of such things—it is God’s will to do that.  Children Ephesians 6:2 “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise).”  A parent is honored when they have the opportunity to advise their child, and to pray with them about any such incident.

            Children who are raised in a Christian home, should be taught to go to the parents about anything that happens, or anything that may have upset them.  There should always be a good parent/child relationship in every home—a relationship where a child is comfortable in talking about anything that pertains to them—anything they experienced, or something they did that day.

            Children must be told of their responsibility to go immediately to a parent or caretaker for advice on any troubling or upsetting matter.  They must be encouraged to talk about anything, even if it is of a personal nature—physical abuse, or an upsetting statement said.  Any such incident should be told to the parent in private and in confidence—making sure the child knows that we are willing to listen to anything they want to say—giving them our full attention for as long as needed.

            Parents are instructed to train and explain things to their children—it is a God-given responsibility that should be taken seriously.  If a child thinks something is going on in the household that should not be, they should be encouraged to speak to a parent or guardian about it.  As a parent, we would want to hear about any possible problem within the home, and certainly, would want to pray about the situation so we can respond scripturally.

            Any such problem in the home is a humbling matter to deal with, but spiritual growth will result if it is met right.  We are told to—1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  God wants us to cast any care we have on our mind upon Him; so He would surely want our children to tell us about any problem they may be facing.

            If we are told about, or even suspect, any situation in our home that is not right, we must first go to God in prayer, and ask Him for spiritual guidance on the matter in how to deal with it correctly.  Luke 12:2 “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.”  Therefore, anything we need to know about, should be brought out in the open, so that we can deal with it according to God’s will and Word.

            Any child—especially under the age of accountability—should always feel comfortable to communicate confidentially with a parent about anything that is upsetting to them.  If the child thinks they have been wronged or abused in any way by another child, a sibling, or any person—such things should not be kept to themselves, but the incident told privately to a parent.

            The scriptural responsibility of the parent then, would be to follow through and give the child or the young person scriptural advice on how to meet this matter in a Christ-like way.  The parent has the God-given right to do this according to Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

            If any child believes they have been mistreated or abused by anyone—whether in the home or outside the home—the incident should be told to a parent or caretaker right away.  The adult would then ask God to show them any spiritual reason on their part for the incident even taking place—if in fact, it did take place. 

            No one should ever deliberately harm an innocent child—because love 1 Corinthians 13:7 “always protects”—and would always help, not hinder, a child in any way.  Love 1 Corinthians 13:6 “finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.”

            The prayer is to ask God why any child under our care did not have the protective covering of the Blood of Christ—something we have every scriptural right to claim and have when taking care of children or raising a family.  Parents need to know why the devil was able to cause such an incident to happen, so it can be remedied in a scriptural way.

            If we know of any situation in the home, or outside the home, that is not right, it should be followed-up right away, and questions asked to determine if such be the case or not.  Everything concerning the matter must be done in a Christ-like way and not as the world does in such cases.  Jesus teaches us how we are to deal with offenses to ourselves or to one of our children.

            He said Matthew 18:15 “If your brother acts wrongly towards you, go and point out his fault to him when only you and he are there. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to hear them, appeal to the Church; and if he refuses to hear even the Church, regard him just as you regard a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.”

            Our response to the offense, and whether we continue to have fellowship with that person—provided that there is no doubt they have committed the wrong—hinges on whether the offender is of a repentant attitude or not.  If they refuse to admit any wrongdoing, when it is quite apparent that there has been wrongdoing, then we would have very little contact with that person until there would be some sign of a sincere repentance.

            Jesus loved little children, and He showed a most kind and loving attitude toward them.  In three Gospels, Jesus showed that we should always make time for children, no matter how busy we may be.  Matthew 19:13 “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.”  They thought He was too busy and had more important things to deal with, but Jesus did not feel that way.

            Mark 10:14 “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 ‘Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”

            Of all people who need our love, our attention and concern, it is our children and young people.  Jesus spoke on the fate of anyone who would deliberately harm a child.  Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones”—Luke 17:2 “that he should cause even one of these little ones to fall”—Luke 17:2 “than to face the punishment in store for harming one of these little ones.”

            Regardless of the wrong done to us, or to a child, we must always ask God for a forgiving spirit toward everyone for any reason or offense against us or a child.  Jesus said on forgiveness Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 

            Children-Parents—Communicating; it never stops, but continues every day through all their life to help them on their journey toward God’s kingdom!