As another school year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on our school theme, “Choose Today…”, inspired by Joshua 24:15, “Choose today whom you will serve.” That verse shaped our classrooms, chapels, and assemblies all year. But as I think back, I’ve realized this message isn’t just for our students. It’s for us as parents, too.
We Are Raising Decision Makers
Children make thousands of decisions every day. Some are insignificant, what game to play at recess or which book to read. Others carry more weight: whether to tell the truth, include someone who is lonely, complete their work with integrity, or respond kindly when frustrated.
One day, those children will be adults making decisions about friendships, careers, finances, marriage, parenting, and, most importantly, their relationship with God.
Those future decisions don’t begin when they leave home. They begin now. Every small choice our children make is shaping the person they are becoming.
As I shared with our Grade 8 graduates this year, “Choose today who you will become.” That challenge isn’t only for students heading into high school. It’s just as important for our youngest learners. Who our children become tomorrow is largely determined by the choices they make today.
Children don’t suddenly develop wisdom as adults. They build it one choice at a time.
The Temptation to Rescue
As parents, we naturally want to protect our children. We solve problems before they become difficult. We remind them of forgotten homework, settle disagreements, clean up messes, and sometimes make decisions for them because it’s faster or easier. There are certainly moments when this is necessary.
But if we always rescue our children from poor choices or shield them from every consequence, we unintentionally rob them of one of life’s greatest teachers: experience.
Making mistakes is uncomfortable. Learning from them is invaluable. Children develop confidence not because they never fail, but because they discover they can recover, learn, and make a better choice next time.
Psychologists call this self-efficacy, the belief that “I can do hard things. I can solve problems. I can make good decisions.” As Christian parents, we know this confidence ultimately rests in God’s strength, but it often grows through opportunities to practice making wise choices. Sometimes the best thing we can do is gently guide instead of immediately stepping in.
This summer offers a natural place to start. A simple example: instead of planning every day of your child’s break, let them decide how to spend a Saturday, plan a family activity, or manage their own screen-time budget for the week. Let the choice, and its result, belong to them.
Three Habits That Shape Character
At our Graduation Banquet, I challenged our Grade 8 students with three simple practices that apply to every age, even adults.
Think about good things. Our minds are constantly being filled: books, music, YouTube, social media, video games, friends, conversations. What we consistently consume eventually shapes what we believe, value, and become. Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:8 to “think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.”
As parents, one of the best questions we can ask isn’t simply, “Is this allowed?” It’s “Is this helping my child become the person God is calling them to be?”
Choose wise influences. As children grow older, their circle of influence expands. Friends begin to carry more weight. Teachers, coaches, youth leaders, grandparents, and mentors all help shape their character. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Helping children choose wise friends and teaching them how to be wise friends themselves is one of the greatest investments we can make.
Let’s continue earning the privilege of being one of the wise voices they still want to listen to as they grow.
Build excellent habits. Occasional big decisions don’t form character. Repeated small ones form it.
Working hard. Being honest. Helping without being asked. Praying regularly. Reading God’s Word. Attending church. Serving others. Showing gratitude.
One of my favourite memories from our Grade 8 trip wasn’t an activity or destination. It was watching students quietly serve. Before meals, they volunteered to carry supplies, prepare food, wash dishes, and clean up without expecting recognition. Those moments reminded me that character often reveals itself when no one is watching.
Good habits become good character.
The Goal Isn’t Perfection
As parents, it’s easy to feel pressure to get everything right. But our calling isn’t to raise perfect children. It’s to raise children who are learning to seek God’s wisdom, accept responsibility, grow through mistakes, and faithfully serve others. That journey requires practice, patience, and opportunities to choose.
So this summer, look for small ways to give your children more responsibility. Invite them to make age-appropriate decisions. Allow them to experience the results. Celebrate wise choices, and when poor ones are made, use them as opportunities to teach rather than simply rescue. Every choice is preparing them for the next one.
A Final Thought
As another wonderful year at Elora Road Christian School comes to an end, thank you for partnering with us in raising children who love God and love others. My prayer is that together we continue to raise young people who understand that every day presents a choice — a choice to grow, a choice to serve, a choice to follow Christ.
Because the choices they make today will help determine who they become tomorrow.
