孩子是神所赐的礼物。然而，当许多人了解到为人父母的责任重大时，他们会不知所措。父母必须在身体、情感和精神上培养和照顾孩子。孩子长大后会成为成熟而独立的人。而父母和照顾者的任务就是成为他们人生中的第一位引路人。
非洲有句谚语说，孩子是由两种声音抚养长大的：男低音和女高音。这指的是孩子需要边界和爱。给孩子自由可以是一种爱的表现，但如果你不同时给他们所需要的安全感和边界，那就可能害了他。另一方面，让孩子无休止地遵守规则而不给予宽容也是一个代价高昂的错误。
在没有爱的规则下养育孩子会让他们很痛苦，保罗警告父母们不要这样做。更重要的是，这种养育方式会让孩子对神——他们的天父——产生扭曲的印象。
你是否在一个规矩太多、缺乏爱和恩典的家庭中长大？我们许多人都知道这种情况带来的苦楚，但好消息是，我们可以在神——我们完美的父母——那里得着医治。作为信徒，我们不能忘记基督徒生活中的高音和低音、爱和边界。为人父母的可以依靠天父和信仰群体的支持，彼此交流，和孩子一同成长。
圣灵啊，请引导我们在主耶稣的恩典和真理中培养年轻人。阿们。
申命记 6:4-7；以弗所书 6:4
4“以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们神是独一的主。
5你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。
6我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，
7也要殷勤教训你的儿女。无论你坐在家里、行在路上，躺下、起来，都要谈论。
4你们做父亲的，不要惹儿女的气，只要照着主的教训和警戒养育他们。
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4
A child is a gift from God. However, many parents are overwhelmed when they learn that parenthood comes with great responsibility. Parents must nurture and care for children physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Children grow up to be mature and independent people. And parents and caregivers are tasked with being their first guides in life.
An African proverb says that a child is raised by two voices: a bass voice and a soprano voice. This refers to a child’s need for both limits and love. Giving your child freedom can be an act of love, but it can be cruel if you do not also give your child the security and structure they need. On the other hand, subjecting a child to endless rules without grace is also a costly mistake.
Raising children with loveless limits can make them bitter, and Paul warns parents against that. What's more, that kind of parenting can cause children to have a distorted image of God, their heavenly Father.
Were you raised in a home with too many rules and lacking love and grace? Many of us know the bitterness that can cause, but the good news is that we can find healing in God, our perfect parent. As believers, we must not forget the high voice and the low voice, the love and the limits of the Christian life. Parents can depend on the heavenly Father and lean into the support of the community of believers, talking with each other and with their children—all along the way as they grow.
Holy Spirit, guide us in raising young people in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
