We also began correcting our children using scriptures. In dealing with disobedience, for instance, we gave them Ephesians 6: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honour your parents (which is the first commandment with a promise) that you may have a good and long life” and Proverbs 6:20: “My son, observe the commandments of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide over you, when you sleep they will watch over you, when you awake, they will talk to you. ”

We have since replaced time in front of the TV with Family-Get-Together and Praying time!

We taught our children basic life principles from the Bible – for example, on accountability and service. We’ve told them of their blessings in keeping these principles and warned them of the consequences of violating these principles. We shared with them God’s promises to help them in every area of their lives, whether it be health, bad eyesight, lack of confidence or anxiety over exams and sport meets.

Training up children is indeed back-breaking work but we hold on to Proverbs 22 that when they are old, they will not depart from the right path.

He’s the inspiration

The world moves fast and negative social influences are prevalent. Each year, about 1,000 juveniles land in our courts (The Straits Times, 8 Oct 2006). This works out almost three cases per day!

But we believe that there are no bad children, only untrained ones. Why do parents wait for the day when their children have to be sent to the school counsellor, the school teacher, the school principal or worse, the civil authorities before they realise that they are the ones responsible for the training of their own children?

This is what God wants of all parents – to be good stewards of His little ones! He inspired Pauline and I to start Feed Our Lambs – a daily email reflection on the parenting principles outlined in the Bible. It has become a way for us to share with others our parental experience and knowledge of the Bible as catechists.

We sent out our first email on the first day of 2007 to 24 of our close friends and relatives. The number of requests for Feed Our Lambs has been increasing daily. Now, four months later, we have over 2,000 subscribers on our list; and these do not include subscribers who help forward the messages to their friends in Singapore and overseas. The number of requests for Feed Our Lambs is growing daily.

It has been a humbling experience but we know, as on that day of Pentecost, it is the Holy Spirit that touches the hearts of these parents and puts in their hearts a hunger for His Word. He wants His children brought up through these parents.

We hope we are worthy of this calling and are faithful in obeying His promptings.

God bless.

What do you think of this article? Send your e-mails to theprompt@catholic.org. To subscribe to Feed Our Lambs, email feedourlambs@pacific.net.sg

Xavier Woon has been a catechist in Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS) for more than 10 years and is also a catechist in the OLPS Home Catechism Centre. He is a facilitator in St. Patrick’s School’s School Family Education programmes and a member of its Parents’ Support Group. His professional training is in engineering and quality assurance. He also has a Masters in Social Science (Counselling) from the University of South Australia.

Pauline is the proud mother of four children. She has been involved in the OLPS Home Catechism Centre since 2000. Trained in graphic design, she is now pursuing a course in early childhood education. She is also a facilitator in the School Family Education programmes.