I remember being a young child and finding a dollar bill on the floor of my classroom. I was thrilled, coming from a single-parent home on food stamps, that dollar meant I could finally buy an ice cream at lunch. I slipped it into my pocket, and for the rest of the morning, I could hardly focus on my schoolwork. All I could think about was that sweet treat.
But during morning recess, I noticed one of my classmates crying. My heart always ached for anyone in pain, and I went over to ask what was wrong. Through her tears, she told me she had lost the dollar her mom gave her for ice cream.
In that moment, I was torn. Part of me wanted to keep the dollar, but I knew what was right. My mother had worked hard to instill biblical values in me, and even though the choice wasn’t easy, I couldn’t ignore what she had taught me. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17, ESV). That truth guided my heart. I knew I had to do the right thing, no matter how difficult it felt.
I returned the dollar to her. She was overjoyed and thanked me for finding it. She could tell I was disappointed, so when lunchtime came, she used that same dollar to buy an ice cream sandwich and shared it with me.
Instilling Christian Virtues:
Instilling Christian virtues, such as love, honesty, kindness, and responsibility, lays the groundwork for developing Christian character. When taught, these virtues help shape a strong moral compass that guides children’s choices and actions throughout their lives.
Traits such as empathy, patience, and fairness also play a vital role in helping children form deep, lasting friendships and healthy relationships. They learn to see the world through others’ eyes, handle conflict with grace, and become peacemakers. We hope to raise our children to be other-centered, rather than self-centered. A life rooted in virtue often leads to a more profound sense of joy and purpose.
The most powerful way to teach virtue is through example and hands-on practice. When children see virtue in action, they are more likely to embody it themselves, as those virtuous decisions take root in their hearts and transform them to have a Christ-like character.
Scripture tells us:
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV).
Faith is an Outstanding Virtue:
The virtue of faith is one of the cornerstones of Christian parenting. Faith is also one of the three “theological virtues” alongside hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV). How can we instill the virtue of faith?
Celebrate those “faith moments.” When your child chooses to do what’s right, even when it’s difficult, and sees God respond through prayer, acknowledge and rejoice in it together! Say something like, “That’s faith in action!” Reinforcing these moments helps them see that faith is real and relevant.
Faith doesn’t mean never having doubts or questions. Encourage their questions! Help your children explore their curiosity and seek answers in the Bible. Let them know that God welcomes their questions and walks with them as they grow. Questions also help children develop into critical thinkers and make informed, wise choices.
Age-appropriate conversations:
- Ages 2-4: “We may not be able to see God with our eyes, but we know He’s real, just like we know the wind is real because we can see what it does. God cares for you the way Mommy and Daddy care for you.”
- Ages 5-7: “Faith means trusting God’s promises even when they haven’t happened yet. Remember how Abraham had to wait many years for baby Isaac? He trusted God the whole time.”
- Ages 8-12: “Having faith doesn’t mean we never have questions or doubts. It means we choose to trust God’s character and promises even during confusing or difficult times. What questions do you have about God?”
- Ages 13-17: “Faith during the teen years often involves questioning and personally owning beliefs rather than simply inheriting them. What questions or doubts are you wrestling with in your faith journey? How do you balance critical thinking with trust? What does mature faith look like compared to childish faith?”
As you cultivate virtuous faith in your child, you will witness a glorious transformation of godly character unfold before your eyes, helping them develop deep trust in goodness, truth, and their ability to make a positive difference in the world.
Lee Ann Mancini is the author of Raising Kids to Follow Christ, Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God, founder of Raising Christian Kids, adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary, and executive producer of the animated series Sea Kids on Right Now Media, Pure Flix, Answers.tv, Minno, and Yippee. Lee Ann is the mother of two adult children and lives with her husband in South Florida, where she passionately pursues her calling to help parents raise lifelong Christ-followers.
