After a tiring day, my wife asked me for a mug of tea - to be ready by the time she came out of the shower. Of course, I ran at it. Water was ready, and I dipped her decaffeinated teabag in the mug. Then I was distracted by another task in the kitchen, then got busy with the boys. I returned to the tea after about five minutes. Additives were added as Her Majesty usual orders. When I delivered the mug, the temperature was perfect for immediate consumption. Good job.

But the first sip generated a facial expression that says "something is wrong" . “You left the tea bag for too long,” she said.

If you are meticulous with tea, you will understand the difference. Not even the extra potion of condensed milk could redeem the situation. I had to get another mug, this time, paying rapt attention. You see, timing is vital with teabags as with almost every culinary process. Gourmet folks would argue that extra few seconds in the heat could damage tea or vegetable.

For the next few days, we will be talking about parenting. We will be drawing some lessons from teabags. 

I want to believe that all parents in Christian homes desire to raise excellent children, God’s Generals, etc. Yes, I agree with the notion that God is the One who helps us to succeed in any & every endeavour - not the least parenting. Ps 127 holds true. However, just as the Scriptures say concerning Abrahams’s ability to lead his family AFTER HIM, the Lord expects us to excel in our roles as parents

Love can sometimes appear as the opposite of it. When Ma’ami doled strict disciplinary measures many years ago, I thought she was wicked. But in recent years, I began to see how children can be likened to teabags left for too long in the water - in the form of excess affection and love. We now live in times when children who are not grown enough to cross the road are seen as autonomous to change their gender.

Seeing the failure that comes with this generation of parents leaving the teabags predominantly in the water in the name of too much love or child rights, we now know the impacts of the “rod”, “suffering”, and discipline in raising good children. The Bible holds true, he whom the parents love, they rebuke. If a vine branch bears fruits optimally, shouldn’t the gardener be delighted and instead fancifully dress the branch? No, the Saviour instructed that such a branch should be pruned, that it may bear more fruits. So, even the children who are doing very well should be drilled/pruned to do even better. The pruning process is not the most pleasant experience for the vine branch and is time-consuming for the gardener; the same goes for deliberate parenting.

If you genuinely love your children, you would know when to correct rather than pamper; when to scold rather than look away; when to encourage; when to allow them to fall, make mistakes and learn; when not to rescue - just ensure safety and safeguarding. Some overprotective tendencies are synonymous with leaving the teabag too late in the water.

Child abuse, violence, molestation and other vices are not only against the scriptures but also unlawful. This post concerns raising intelligent, well-mannered, godly children, not supporting violating our precious young ones.

©️ SELAH SERIES 2023