Rules for Raising Children

I came across Susannah Wesley’s Rules For Raising Children today during my sermon preparation for Sunday. The mother of nineteen children, Wesley has often been called the "Mother of Methodism" because of the influence she had on her sons, John and Charles Wesley.

If every parent took these six rules to heart, I suspect all our children would be better off:

1. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.
2. Teach him/her to pray as soon as he can speak.
3. Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely.
4. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed.
5. Commend and reward good behavior.
6. Strictly observe all promises you have make to your child.