There are many skills we can teach our kids. When they are young, we teach them how to tie their shoes and make their bed. Before they move out we teach them how to change a tire, pay bills and get a stain out of their favorite shirt. All of these things are useful at various stages of their life.
However, one tool they will need from 1 year old to 100 years old is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Empathy leads to compassion.
Compassion breeds love and love is what our world needs more of right now.
Not romantic love, but Agape love – the kind of love that can only come from the God of all Creation, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega. There is a level of love that is only experienced through the forgiveness of sins and a personal relationship with Christ.
This has been my number one prayer for my kids. Now that both of my boys have accepted Jesus, my prayers have changed from knowing God’s love to walking in God’s love, and living it out. My prayers also changed when they became teenagers but that’s for another day!
In our house, how we treat other people is a big deal! I hope it is in your family, too. Some kids are naturally better at it than others. Empathy, compassion and love have to be taught intentionally. They are verbs, not simply feelings, and require action. As parents, we have to teach our kids the what, why and how.
The Bible is full of instructions on how we are to treat other people. It was hard to narrow it down! If we teach our kids these verses and how to use them in their everyday life, we’ll be doing just fine.
- Genesis 1:27 – So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
When our kids truly believe all people are created in God’s image, it changes how they see and treat other people and how they view themselves.
First, THEY are created in the image of God. How crazy is that? That gives them value, worth and purpose. This doesn’t change if they’ve had a bad day, didn’t get their way or messed up really bad.
Second, EVERYONE is created in the image of God. All races and ethnic groups all over the world are created in God’s image. Regardless of age, gender, religion, social status, political affiliation, income or shoe size, all humans are created in the image of God. They have value, worth and purpose.
Our kids need to know this!
- Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Ever wonder where the “Golden Rule” came from? Yep, that’s right. The Bible. The wording on this can be confusing so try explaining it like the Golden Rule…Treat others the way you want to be treated.
If our kids mess up, do they want forgiveness? Yes. Then they should forgive others when they mess up.
Do they want good friends? Then they should be a good friend to others.
Do they like it when someone makes fun of them? Of course not! Then they shouldn’t make fun of others.
See where I’m going with this? When we explain with specific behavioral examples our kids can use in their daily lives, it helps help them treat others with respect and kindness.
Our kids need to know this!
- Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
These two commandments have a cause and effect relationship. Loving God should cause us to love our neighbor. Loving our neighbors shows others we love God. They are different sides of the same coin. One should not be void of the other.
Our kids need to know this!
- James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
This verse has 3 simple acts that are quite difficult to pull off but has an enormous impact of the lives of those that do!
Break it down for your kids and help them apply it to friendships or sibling relationships.
#1-Quick to listen- We should be ready to listen to people first.
#2-Slow to speak- If your friend has a problem, we should talk less than they do.
#3-Slow to become angry- Be patient with your friends, even if you don’t like what you just listen to or it hurts your feelings. It’s hard to be a good friend when we are focused on our own feelings.
Our kids need to know this! Let’s be real, the whole world needs to know this!
Take the next month and focus on one passage a week with your family. Lead by example and be a guide through the Bible for your kids.