The great preacher, St. John Chrysostom, admonishes parents in the ways to raise children not to merely become good citizens on the empire, but to be Saints, bringing honor to their parents both in this life and in the life to come.
“This is how to discipline and teach your child; this is the greatest of riches. Do not worry about giving him an influential reputation for worldly wisdom, but ponder deeply how you can teach him to think lightly of this lifes passing glories; thus he will become truly renowned and glorious. Whether you are poor or rich, you can do this; these lessons are not learned from a skillful professor but from divine revelation.”
“It is necessary for everyone to know Scriptural teachings, and this is especially true for children. Not knowing divine truths, they do know something of the pagan stories, learning from them about wondrous lives, about heroes in their sight, who served the passions and were afraid of death.”
Speaking of Hannah and her son Samuel: “She did not know if she would ever have another, yet she never said, I will wait until he grows up; he should have a taste of worldly pleasures, during his childhood at least. No; she rejected all these thoughts, for she had only one object: how from the very beginning she could dedicate her hearts delight to God. Be ashamed, you men, at the wisdom of this woman. She gave Samuel to God, and with God she left him, and thus her marriage was blessed more than ever, because her first concern was for spiritual things.”
This recording is an excerpt from the text found here: http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/parenting.aspx
Holy Father John, pray to God for us!
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This is beautiful. But do you have a message for parents who are complete failures like me?
My earthy father, my "dad" was cruel, vindictive and angry towards me and my upbringing. He was also a violent drunk. He passed a decade ago, I don't miss him. I pray for him but I cannot "Honour his memory".
Amen Amen Amen! God help us raise saintly children all for Gods Glory! ☦️💕