Do you feel like every way you try to train your children only leads to more frustration on both sides? Today on Home School Heartbeat host Mike Smith talks to author and counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick about different types of parenting.
Mike Smith:
This week our guest is Elyse Fitzpatrick, whose latest book, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, is written about parenting. Elyse, we’re so glad to have you with us today!
Elyse Fitzpatrick:
Thanks Mike, I’m really honored to be with you.
Mike:
Well, Elyse, disciplining our children is never easy, we all know that. In your book, though, you say that rules aren’t necessarily the answer to training children, but grace is. Can you please explain the difference between parenting by rules and parenting by grace?
Elyse:
At heart, the difference between parenting by rules and parenting by grace is really one of trust. We all want our children to grow up to be good, responsible adults, but the question is, how do we get them there? Do we trust that our rules and our consistency in applying the rules will be enough, or do we trust in the heart-transforming power of the gospel? I think that the Bible makes it clear that rules can’t change the heart—only the gospel of grace can do that. Will we trust in our ability to make our kids good, or in Christ’s ability to transform them and make them perfectly righteous? Bottom line: what we trust in is the issue.
Mike:
Well, thank you so much for sharing this wisdom with us today, Elyse, and I know our listeners will appreciate it. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
