"Well-liked by All"

Christian parents,

Do you want everyone to like your children? Think about it carefully. Yes, this is a trick question. It points back to you.

Do you want everyone to like you? Think about it carefully. Yes, this is a trick question. If the answer is yes, you are living for the wrong purpose. This is not a good goal, not in your personal life, and certainly not in parenting.

The goal of your life should not be "She was well-liked", and yet, we get sucked into this people-pleaser trap, much to our own detriment. Inevitably, you are placing your sense of significance in the hands of people. I have bad news for you. People mess up all the time. Do you know you can't even completely rely on yourself?

Yes, it's true. You will let yourself down. You've seen it in your past and it will likely happen again.

So, where does your significance lie? In the hands of others? Or in the hands of a gracious God? Are you striving for "Well done, good and faithful servant, " ?

Back to parenting. Do you want everyone to like your children? Should this be your desire? No.

"...building a significant purpose into your children invariably guarantees that some people won't like them." -Tim Kimmel, Grace-based Parenting. What? Someone not like my child? Yes, and you need to be okay with that. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter trials of many kinds...."

Do not push your child to be "well-liked by all". That is not where you want their significance to be based. Jesus loved all, but was not loved by all. If they're goal is to be "well-liked", they will not stand up for their faith. If you are striving to be "well-liked by all," your children will strive for this as well.

Set your goal higher, for you and for them. Strive to please God and not man. "well done, good and faithful servant," instead of "well-liked by all."