Although volumes have been written over the past several decades on the psychology of raising children, we have a generation of parents who sometimes feel at their wit’s end regarding the way to handle their offspring. We have become afraid we’ll make a mistake and such over-anxiety often produces poor parents.

I wish there was a magic formula for producing the kind of children we want to give to the world. If this was true, we could all be ideal parents, but this goal is elusive and we all must struggle for it daily.

Using the word ideal, I would suggest some guidelines I believe would help all who are parents to do a better job.

The letter “I” suggests interests. I believe we, as parents need to show genuine interest in the life and world of our children. I believe much of the delinquency we see is simply a child trying to get our attention.

The letter “D” suggests discipline. I don’t care what psychology books say about discipline, I know what the Bible says. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) Training involves discipline. To be sure, it should be discipline tempered with love. It should teach a child that disobedience brings punishment. Failure to discipline will produce maladjusted and rebellious children.

“E” should stand for example. All of the interest and discipline in the world is for naught if a child lacks a pattern to follow. Most children are very much lke their parents because, they strive to imitate them. One of the most painful reprimands I ever received was to hear one of my children when I corrected them say, “Daddy, you do it.”

The letter “A” should stand for ardent prayers. I believe it is utterly impossible to be a successful parent without the help of God. If you child were desperately sick, no one would have to chide you to pray earnestly for your child. Many parents forget to pray, unless there is some emergency.

Finally, “L” must stand for love. Ideal parents must love with all their hearts. This kind of love is the kind of which apostle Paul wrote when he said it, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails.” (I Cor. 13:7)

I believe these five things must be remembered in our efforts to raise these precious lives entrusted to our care.