No Training Manual Required

The responsibilities of parenting are enormous. Children need to learn how to tie their shoes, say “please” and “thank you,” listen to others, read, write, articulate themselves, ride a bike, drive a car, respect their elders… you get the picture.

When you stop to think about everything a child needs to learn, the task for a parent seems overwhelming. Where is the training manual? Actually, there isn’t one. That’s the amazing thing.

There is no generally accepted chart or timeline that tells you sequentially what to teach your child when. Somehow, parents just know when its time to learn how to use a fork, sit at the “big table,” and wash their hands.

Similarly, there is no “how to” guide on teaching these things. Parents just recognize opportunities for “teachable moments” as they arise. It almost seems like all of a child’s training is left to chance. But actually, the opposite is true.

The parent’s ability to train a child in life-skills is a result of generation upon generation of parenting. In other words, today’s parent knows what to do because their parent’s trained them. And they knew what to do because their parents trained them. And so on.

The power of situation-based training (see the need and respond) coupled with the power of generations of investment creates a powerful learning environment. After all, do you know any 18 year olds who can’t tie their shoes?

Discipleship is just like parenting. Many people think they must have a training manual to guide them through the discipleship process. And while such manuals may be valuable, they are not necessary. The power of teachable moments coupled with generations of discipleship that proceed you have equipped you to make disciples whether you realize it or not.