Raising Warriors
Have you ever wondered, where are the George Washingtons and the Patrick Henrys of our day? Where are the D.L. Moodys and the David Livingstons? Where are the Amy Carmichaels and the Lilias Trotters? Where are the men and women of integrity who will stand on principle, pledging life, fortune, and sacred honor to fight for freedom? Where are the legislators who cannot be bought by bribes? Where are the missionaries who go boldly into dangerous territory to win it for Christ? Where are the young people who are principled, educated, hard-working, and virtuous? Has it ever occurred to you that the future leaders could be living under your roof? Are you training them to be Christian warriors and patriots?
Training a warrior takes a lot of time and effort and presence. A Marine drill sergeant does not send his recruits on a 10-mile run, he runs with them, shouting “encouragement” all the way. He is there, “encouraging” them as they climb ropes, scale walls, and belly crawl through mud and under barbed wire. His voice is the first one a recruit hears in the morning. He is there at mealtimes, and woe betide the recruit who does not abide by dinner protocol! By constant presence, training, correcting, example, and “encouragement,” a drill sergeant turns fresh-faced youth into warriors in a matter of months. A parent’s warrior training takes longer, but the same principles apply (I’m not suggesting a parent should adopt the harsh style of a Marine drill sergeant, just the principles).
Presence. Be there with your children. School fragments families. Even after school hours, the school is often dictating family schedules with homework, sports, and other extra-curricular activities. Redeem the 16,000 some hours that your child would be in school and spend that time working and learning with them.
Correction. Children are not born knowing what is right. They have a propensity to want their own way. They need constant correction and direction both for their own safety and so they do not end up being jerks as adults. Attitudes need correction as well as actions. If a tantrum won’t be funny at 20 years old, then it shouldn’t be funny at two years old. Childhood play is important, but it should be balanced with a healthy dose of preparation for adulthood.
Encouragement. Correction should be balanced with a mammoth mountain of encouragement! It’s easy to get caught up in all that needs to be done and pressure children to do more instead of praising them for what they have done. Praise should be based more on effort than outcome. It’s actually detrimental to the child to praise talent, beauty, or other characteristics over which the child has no control. Instead, praise diligence, persistence, attention to detail, thoroughness. “You worked so hard!” is more effective praise than “You are so good at this!” When you see progress in learning, let the child know! When you catch him being kind to his sister, praise him! Children need encouragement, and they will be drawn to the person who praises them. Let that person be you!
Training. A child comes into the world knowing nothing. You teach them to talk by talking to them. You teach them to sit and stand by supporting them. You teach them to walk by allowing two little, chubby fists to grip your fingers as they step out. You teach them to brush their teeth by doing it for them in the early years. You teach them to say, “please” and “thank you,” by requiring it and doing it yourself. Every parent is a teacher. You can extend those lessons into the academic realm, too. More and more curriculum is written by and for home educators, and it is simple for a busy parent to use. Home education is not easy, but neither is training warriors!
The public schools are training warriors, too! The government drill sergeants understand these principles, and they have been successful in their implementation! In the past few years, we have seen their trained armies in mass protests. Is this the army you want your children to join? Sadly, many parents did not realize their children were in the enemy’s boot camp until they saw them fighting in the enemy’s army. If your children (or grandchildren) are school age, there is still time to STEP OUT of the enemy boot camp, and start your own warrior training program! Will you?
P.S. I acknowledge that there are great teachers in the public schools and even Christians who are trying to make a difference. And for a small number of students, they do make a difference. I applaud the difference they are able to make. However, in the grand scheme of things, their efforts have little impact, just as an American soldier would have little positive impact in the Chinese army. And when those teachers stand up to the system, they are often persecuted as if they were enemy soldiers. No matter how great your child’s public school teacher is, they are still in an enemy boot camp. God appointed you as your child’s primary teacher, and as such, you are the best teacher for your child.