Presents are the EXCITING component of birthdays. When we are young, it may be the MOST important element. As I celebrated another trip around the sun, my family spoiled me (which helped take the sting out of getting older.) Opening gifts, I treasured each carefully selected item. Candies, treats, coffee mug strategically placed in the box got unwrapped piece by piece. Same is true with parenting; what you put it, is what you get out. If you place respect, love, model kindness, and patience; you raise respectful, loving, kind adults. It is not magic. No one waves a wand and chants some spell. It is biblical principles. You reap what you sow. If you allow your five-, six-, seven-year-old to be disrespectful, they will become teens who are disrespectful.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” Uncle Ben challenges Spiderman as he gets ready to save the world.

While I am no superhero, parents hold an enormous role in raising good, godly kids. When I observe parents wondering what happened as they enter the high school years, rewind to when they were four. What was cute then is no longer adorable. Did they change? Or did they just get bigger with more at stake?

If you ignore or excuse behavior instead of train and redirect, lasting consequences impact the family.

Sadly, Christian parents step back from the biblical mandate to instruct their children. It is hard work. It is soul work. Being an intentional parent requires intentional living. Our future needs kids who love Jesus. Adults who seek His will for their life. Families who put God first. Today is a new day. Reboot. Refresh.

What needs to be adjusted in your house? Home improvement involves demolishing what needs to be removed so you can replace it with something beautiful. Evaluate what is working and not working—one thing at a time. Seek wisdom when needed. You don’t have to do it alone. Start with a family meeting and apologize for any area you have failed. Explain things will begin to look different. Pray together. Play games together. Watch motivational movies as a family. Invest on a whole new level. As long as they live in your house, it is not too late. You get out what you put in.

Invest well!