Meditations on raising children in the Church

Blog post 

“When your children are still small, you have to help them understand what is good. That is the deepest meaning of life.” -St. Paisios the Athonite

• What is good? Where does it come from?
  
• How do I help children know the good?
  
• How do I show my children what is good?
  
• How do I tell my children what is good?
  
• Who can tell me about what is good?
  Where can I go that helps me understand what is good? 
  
  

“Fathers and mothers: Go and lead your child by the hand into the church." - St. John Chrysostom

• What is the Church?
  
• How can I lead my children to the Church through our home?
  
• How can I lead my children to the Church in their heart?
  
• How can I lead my children to our parish and participate in the services?
  
• What can I do to engage more in the liturgical life at church myself?
  
• How does my spiritual state/life impact my children?
  
• Who can help me?
  
  

“The primary lesson for life must be implanted in the soul from the earliest age. The primary lesson for children is to know the eternal God, the One Who gives everlasting life.” -St. Clement

• What is life? Are their different kinds?
  
• Who is God? What does eternal mean?
  
• What is everlasting life? Why is it important?
  
• How do I teach my children about God and His eternal nature?
  
• How do I show my children what good comes from a relationship with God?
  
• Which ways can lesson about God be taught?
  
• Where is God?
  
• What is the soul?
  
• How do I learn about God and get to know Him?
  
• How do I unite my family with God now?
  
• What is the Church's role in this?
  
• What is my role in this?
  
• What is my family's role in this?
  
  

“The primary goal in the education of children is to teach, and to give examples of a virtuous life.” -St. John Chrysostom

• What are the virtues?
• What is education?
  
• What does education mean in the context of the Church?
• What are the ways I can educate myself? 
  
• Why would it be important for me to know about God to pass on love for Him to my children?
  
• How can I learn from my children?
  
• How can I learn from my priest?
  
• How can I learn from the Church?
  
• How can I learn from friends inside and outside of my parish?
• Do I believe that religious education for my children is important? Why or why not?
  
• How serious am I taking the faith on a daily basis?
• How can I teach my children to unite with God/how can I show them?
  What can I ask God to help me with?