What If I Don't Want to Force My Faith?

Bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.Ephesians 6:4

Our kids are the most important people in our lives, and as parents we want to do everything in our power to help them, to make them the best versions of themselves. That being said, we also want our children to make their own decisions. So how do we strike a balance here?

The first thing to notice is that we are always passing down something to our children. It might be tempting to say that we want to be neutral, but the reality is that this can't be a neutral topic: If we don't teach our kids about faith, we're telling them – in a silence louder than words – that faith really isn't that important.

The love we have for our children is a mirroring of the same love that God has for us. This is why our faith is so important: it teaches us how to love, and part of ensuring our children are well-prepared for adulthood is making sure they know how to love properly, in the same way that Jesus loves us. Ephesians 6:4 echoes this sentiment, as St. Paul urges parents to "bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord."

Fortunately, bringing children up in the faith can be very simple (though not always easy). The following articles detail some good ways to encourage children to develop a strong understanding of faith, the most important of which is to pray together (every day) as a family.