Genesis 2:16-17 – And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
If you have kids or have been around a kid, you probably know that they have a predisposition to ask for things all the time. Can I have this? Can I go here? Can I do this?
Looking at this passage in Genesis 2, there’s a great parenting lesson here: Start by saying yes and only say no if it’s going to hurt your child.
In Genesis 2, God gave Adam and Eve a grace garden – they could eat of any tree except one. He said yes to everything and no to one thing.
When God said “no”, he also did another thing that I think is really important to implement with your kids. He not only said no, but He gave them a reason for it. It was discipleship; He didn’t just tell them what to do but how to think. This will prepare them for the rest of their lives and decision-making, even after you’re gone.
It’s fun to be a green-light parent. If your kids ask for something that’s healthy, happy, and in their best interest and is going to bring them joy, say yes like our Father God did!
If you’re a parent, how can you be more of a “green light” parent like your Father God? If you’re not yet a parent, how does this transform the way you hope to parent in the future?
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