It is, and should be, every parents wish to raise healthy, mature children who conduct themselves with integrity and thoughtfulness. But the mysterious task of parenting holds so many unknowns that most parents find their patience and capacity dwindling by the hundredth time their little darling steps out of line. Perhaps our perspective needs changing; perhaps parenting is not so much about what our children do, but rather who they are. The well known biblical image of the shepherd guarding and directing his flock seems most fitting here. The shepherd is always watching his sheep, always guiding them towards nourishing pastures. When one goes astray, he gently redirects it back to the safety of the pasture. Shepherding your child speaks to the ongoing nourishment of their heart, the ongoing instruction in that which is good and right. When the heart is well-nourished, the behaviour will follow.
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