“When I think about raising my two children, my the eldest daughter, age 10 and my younger son age 9 all I can say it’s is only by the grace of God. Being a parent for me is the most rewarding and challenging me role I have ever had to fulfill , but I wouldn’t have it any other way”– Naa (Eleuthera) stated as she provides further perspective on what it is like raising children and gives a word of encouragement to those who are in positions to look after a child or children. Be encouraged and blessed as you read more…

Raising Children whether as a birth or adoptive parent, family member, teacher mentor etc. is one of the most important callings God can bestow upon you.

“Children are a direct precious gift from God. Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”. Psalm 127:3-5.

This is how I have always regarded my children, as a HERITAGE, a REWARD, BLESSED from the LORD. Therefore the responsibility of raising them has been one of the most precious gifts given to me and so I have taken up the gift with all intentionality and seriousness using the Holy Bible as my guide.

MY VILLAGE

There are so many beautiful aspects about raising my children and one of them is the fact that I am not doing it alone. I am on this exciting journey of parenting with God and my husband, but I am also on this journey with what I call “my village”, taken from an African proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child”. My village being my parents, siblings God parents, Church members, Church leaders, family members, friends, teachers, etc.

The African proverb means that it takes a village, a community’s help in raising a child. Therefore children will reflect the values, beliefs, responsibilities, life lessons that your village has. So we need to midfulabout the village we chose. My husband and I have been very intentional in seeking Gods instructions on who will be included in our village, from the school they attend (a Christians based faith school) the church we belong to, (ensuring they are able to take part and serve in church), the extra curricular activities and the community in which we live in.

The child grows up, and “is raised” around the values and morals of the entire village, not just what’s going on at home. While the phrase “it takes a village” is being used at an all time high, a sense of communal society and shared values amongst raising our children may be at a low especially within the UK after the pandemic. Yet we have ensured to constantly use the access to advice and resources that our village provides.

Its important to know you are not in it alone especially when facing challenging times with your children. We have always tried to surround our children with positive Christian role models, my husband and I being the ones they see the most.

BEING THE EXAMPLE YOU WANT TO SEE

My husband and I strive to be the examples of what Christians should like.
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15

CONVERSATIONS WITH (ONLINE EVENT)

We’re looking forward to our next Conversations With… on Tuesday 17th May via Zoom with our special guests ready to talk the real on parenting! They’ll be sharing real life stories and lessons on parenthood, tips and wisdom on how to raise a godly family.

Check out our Instagram page @eleuthera_426 for more details! Save the date!