This is Part 2 of 2 parts regarding parenting on shyness. First read yesterday’s post and then this post will accomplish it’s purpose.

As stated in the previous article:

…Shyness is not something “cute.”  It is a childish behavior that should be patiently, lovingly and deliberately trained out of the child. What should a parent do?

First, accept your responsibility before God to lead your child to the holiness of God (Deut. 6:6-9).

Secondly, prepare yourself to learn your responsibility (2 Tim. 2:15).

Thirdly, teach your children about the holiness of God. Peter wrote, “He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:15-16 NKJ) The child must understand the character of the Lord, which takes time for him to learn. Children under five may not understand God’s character, so use concrete examples, like their shoes are holy, because the shoes are “set apart” for them and only they wear them. Or you can teach that their home is holy for them, that is why only they live there and other children have their own home. In order to learn about God, they can be discipled to learn about God’s holiness, even if they are not yet Christians.

Fourthly, teach them good manners by consideration of others. Good manners are merely godly decisions and behavior around other people so that other people are considered first. The Great Commandment is “Love God and love others.” That means putting others first and considering them more important than self. Paul wrote,

³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil. 2:3-4 NKJ)

Fifthly, practice the godly actions at home, so that the child will be ready in public. You’ve heard the expression that leads to success – “practice, practice, practice.” It’s true for anything in life, whether learning to play the piano, hitting a bulls eye, or giving a good speech. That is what discipleship is. Help the child learn the truth, show him what you expect, then have him practice it until he does it naturally. Paul wrote, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Phil. 4:9 NAS)

When parents take godly responsibility for their role, the next generation will be more godly than them. The same is often true in reverse. When parents act like Adam and are indifferent to their responsibility, then the next generation is often more indifferent to the spiritual things of God. It is a choice.