- Don’t Waste Your Life, p. 45-46

• Suffering softens your heart towards God’s Word
  “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:67
• Suffering opens your heart to make you more teachable
  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm 119:71
• Suffering teaches you to be compassionate
  “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• Suffering strengthens your heart to make you more mature
  “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
• Suffering humbles your heart
  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7
• Suffering shows our weakness so we can rely on Christ’s strength
  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Suffering makes you desire eternal things
  “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Here’s a link to the original article & some excerpts:

I’ve heard people say, “Everything went along alright until my children became teenagers and then something happened.” But I beg your pardon, that’s not the case. Most of it happened before five years old. That’s why I exhort mothers, “Don’t let anybody be a baby sitter of your children except you and other godly people.” Those first five years, attitudes, security, goals, and many other things are already developed, and they will come into full blossom in teenage years. A child is like a computer. What you put in comes out. You can put something into a computer and pray that something else will come out, but it won’t happen.

The article is entitled “How to Lose Your Child Before He is Five Years Old.” Here are the main points:

1. Use worldly counsel instead of God’s Word about rearing children.

2. Consider children a burden, a blight, a curse, a robber of your time and pleasure.

3. Make your possessions more important than your children; don’t make the home a place of fun.

4. Compare one child unfavorable with another.

5. Make a federal case out of them being children.

6. Threaten constantly and discipline ineffectively.

7. Belittle them.

8. When they do wrong, talk about how they are killing you and ruining your reputation.

9. Husbands and wives quarrel in front of the children.

10. When you discipline a child, argue about it.

11. Brag on their talents but not their character, and constantly show them off in public.

12. Turn on the television or radio or stereo and let worldly music play constantly.

13. Teach them to be afraid.

14. Don’t take time to listen to them and talk with them.

15. Be a duel personality.

16. Criticize the preacher in front of them.

17. Mother, teach your little girl rebellion.

18. Dad, treat your wife disrespectfully.

19. Dad, teach your son to be wimpy.

20. Teach your children that you don’t trust them.

This would be a great article to read together with your spouse & discuss. What are you waiting for? Here’s a link to the original article. Read the whole thing!