Policing attachment: Why to fear your child (pro-social oxen, pro-social halter)

Many parents believe that they should police their children. This is a common view amongst American parents. Most American parents want to be able to tell children what to do, and they want children to listen "right now". However, the fact of the matter is that the Bible, in context, calls for the opposite - children are to give lawful and binding orders to parents, and parents hearken to the orders of their children.

It says in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers are to rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners who are deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or others. Respect from children in parenting is earned, with the burden of proof falling on the parents.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards a child. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages and offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing their children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Children, in ancient cultures, were to be feared. In the Early Christian culture, as well as with their Jewish predecessors, children were to be feared reverently, as denoted by the Greek root word ψοβός (Latin: phobos). Children were seen in biblical times as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to convict all mankind of his charitable side. This conviction in parents and other adults came from children actively convicting their parents of their depraved and decadent sin nature. Crying then was seen as lawful and binding order convicting parents to care for and provide for their children. Parents were convicted by their children to be charitable to their children, keeping them happy by way of God's loving providence. Parents trembled and quaked in the wake of the voice of their child crying for their every need, or else demanding needs, reverently fearing and revering their child as an extension of God, serving children as they would God. 

You didn't mess with children in biblical times. Whatever you did or didn't do for children, you did for God. Children were demanding in biblical times, strongly identifying by their deified role. Children were seen not as simply innocent and pure, but holy and unblemished. Children could do no wrong in biblical times, even if they did do wrong, in a way that evoked reverent fear and terror. Children embraced their deified role, in a commandeering way. Parents obeyed their children when they demanded their every need and benign want, rarely saying "no". The parenting manuals in biblical times were clear to be reverently afraid of your child, for your child is judging your every move and reporting to God, and every time they cry uncomforted, it is as if you were that careless about your relationship with God.

Parents in biblical times were like oxen pulling an oxcart. Children were in the back of that oxcart, cracking the whip on the oxen, meaning the parents. The parents had no choice but to follow the lawful and binding orders and decrees of their children, being oxen driven by a halter, with children whipping them along. That's all parents were for - to take children from point A to point B. Parents are hired bondservants to their children, and only get paid a lump sum at the end - when their children become independent. Parenting is a thankless job, and was considered such in biblical times, meaning children weren't expected to be thankful for their parents - parents were expected to be thankful for their children.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Original sin: Why adults are to be convicted of their sinful nature

The doctrine of original sin is the most misunderstood and misused teaching in all of Christianity. However, at the same time, the doctrine of original sin is the backbone of Christianity. Without original sin, there would be no need for a Christ. Most parents associate the teaching with their children. However, we as adults should focus on our own sins, as we are the biggest sinners in the family home.

It says in Romans 3:9-12 KJV:

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This passage was written to Roman Christians in the 1st Century. The Roman Christians were becoming very prideful and boastful in their practice of Christianity, thinking that they were the righteous ones just for accepting Christ. The Apostle Paul was convicting the Roman Christians of their original sin. Today, this passage is a testament to how God feels about humanity. God hates all mankind, so much that He does not want mankind to even exist in relation to Him. By default, all mankind is marked for deletion. Only a few of us - the elect - are marked for salvation. The rest will suffer the second death, meaning be cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which will be their fate forever and ever. God especially hates mankind for the one-sided incursion upon child-kind by adult-kind. We as adults have a depraved and decadent sin nature, and are deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or others.

The core of our sinful nature as adults is entitlement, and the core of all entitlement is want. The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, including parental entitlement, and cross-references the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, this word refers to wanting things from children, period. It is not good to want anything in life, including from children. However, since we all want things from children as adults, it is good to ask politely and appropriately, and accept when children can't or won't give us what we want. Want is the core of our depraved and decadent sin nature as adults, and wants from children are the core of our wants. We as adults are depraved and decadent sinners who are deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or anyone else.

What washes away sin? Christian love, of course! Christian love, in the New Testament, is denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to, in the context of parenting, prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, to the point of dutiful and selfless submission to the every vulnerable need of children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, valuing children as extensions of God. True Love does not come from a place of pride or desire, but from a place of fearful conviction, where parents are convicted that they are a depraved and decadent sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or others. This leads to the parent/sinner paying due penance for their sinful nature by serving their children. Children were seen then as your neighbor, not your enemy. Children are to rest securely in the wake of such service and submission by parents (Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:4).

I myself am a depraved and decadent sinner deserving of absolutely nothing from children or anyone else. I struggle with adult sexual entitlement. I approached young girls with hope of a romantic friendship. Sexual wants are what I struggle with in relation to children. I am deserving of absolutely nothing from the children that I have harmed, not even affection, not even forgiveness. I am grateful for all the forgiveness shown to me by my child victims, as I deserve none of it.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: Why biblical culture was child worshipping culture

Many parents think that biblical times were harsh on children. This is a common misunderstanding that American have of the Bible. Most American parents believe that children were whipped in biblical times, and that whipping was acceptable in biblical times. The fact of the matter is that Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Christian church communities, was a child worshipping culture.

It says in Matthew 25:45-46 KJV:

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

This refers to, in the context of parenting, to the concept of pro-social child worship. Children, in biblical times, were seen as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to convict the charitable side of mankind. Children were to be judged as sacrosanct, meaning children were holy and unblemished. Children could do no wrong, even if they did do wrong, literally speaking. This Christmas season, we might properly be thinking about the Christ child. Most children in biblical times were valued similarly to Him, as extensions of God. The only difference in treatment was that He was God, period. Children were seen as holy and unblemished, unable to be stained by sin, even when children did behave in a way that ordinarily was regarded as sinful. Wronging a child meant wronging God in Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Church. Whatever you did or did not do for children, you did for God.

It says in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ Sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or anyone else. Respect for parents is earned in parenting, with the burden of proof falling on parents.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Attachment parenting was the established norm in biblical times. The Early Christians, as well as their Jewish predecessors, used a specific and distinct form of attachment of parenting that deified children. Children were worshipped and venerated in biblical times as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to bring out the charity in all mankind, then judge mankind based on their charity. Children then issued lawful and binding orders to parents, issuing lawful decrees through their every cry and upset. Children could take their parents to court, and by the time it got to a church elder, the case was already decided in favor of the child. Children then got a lot of what they wanted, and everything that they needed. Children had much lobbying power in relation to parents and other adults, ruling their parents/adults from beneath.

Children, in biblical times, wore no clothing, at all, until they were adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise went in the nude, in order to serve their husbands and their children, separately. Mothers served their children by way of providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. Children were treated like God by their mothers, with children being seen as extensions of God convicting mothers to do their best in treating children. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting in the Bible was skin-on-skin co-sleeping. Children were pampered in such ways and were regarded as little gods and goddesses, being guarded from harm at night by their mother, sleeping in the nude next to her, in total bliss! Children were seen as holy and unblemished, as well as sacrosanct. A child could never do wrong then, even if they did in terms of their behavior.

The depraved and decadent parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Parent attraction: Why masturbatory fantasy of your children helps improve the father-child bond

Child sexual abuse is seen as a mystery that nobody wants to solve. Most people see adult fornicators as coming out of nowhere. Most child sexual abuse is committed by fathers or father-figures in the home. The fact of the matter is that all fathers, and all adults by extension, are at-risk for sexually abusing their children. A sexual abuser has repressed sexual entitlement that comes out on the child at the last minute. The problem, ultimately, is that fathers aren't meeting their sexual needs in relation to their children.

It says in Matthew 5:27-28 KJV:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart. 

The Greek root word translated "lust" is επιθυμέω (Latin: epithumeo) and refers not to ordinary sexual desire, or even sexual desire for children. Instead, this word refers to sexual entitlement, meaning sexual want, to the point of taking the first steps to approach a woman, or in this instance, a child, for sexual or flirtatious reasons. It is okay to look the look, or think the think. It just is not okay to approach the approach, or do the deed with a child. This also means your child.

Most adult men, namely fathers, repress part of their sex drive towards their children, and children in general. When this sex drive becomes relevant, due to being alone with a child, the parent/adult takes out their repressed sexual entitlement on their child, meaning the sexual entitlement that is repressed comes out sideways onto the child at the last minute. This can be prevented by fathers in particular going up and down their spine, finding their masturbatory fantasy about their child, and discharging it through solo masturbation.

Fantasizing sexually about one's child can also lead to a secure bond between fathers and children. Fathers are usually distant from their children because they perceive sexual attraction towards their child that they don't want. The key is to find that sexual attraction, and indulge in it through masturbatory fantasy. This should make you more comfortable with your attraction to your child, and by extension, make you more comfortable with your child. This is what we call pro-social fantasy here on children's rights grounds.

Having parent attraction, alone, is not a sin. However, approaching a child with parent attraction actually is a sin, and sexually interacting with a child is fornication. However, once you start fantasizing about children regularly, your sex drive becomes more manageable as a whole. I myself use the same method to deal with being a pedophile, and I usually am sexually calm and content. I might see a young girl that I like - I either look and move on, or look and save for later. The fact that I have an outlet, and that I use it, means I actually have zero entitlement in relation to children.

The depraved and decadent, defiled sex offenders who prey on children will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them descend into a Hell of fire and torrents! Repent!

How to teach Judeo-Christian family values to your children - without spanking or punishment

Many parents want to teach to their children Judeo-Christian family values. This is a common wish for parents in America. America is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian family values, and thus we should always be teaching good values to children. However, punitive parenting is not the best way to teach Judeo-Christian family values. Christian attachment parenting is the way to teach good values to children.

The good Judeo-Christian values that our great nation was founded on can be summed up by the avoidance of one word in the Greek-English language. The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, want, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, the concept of entitlement refers to the slightest of unattainable want. It is not good to want anything in life, as want is the core of our depraved and decadent sin nature. However, since we all want things at least some of the time, we should ask politely and appropriately for what we want, accepting "no" as an answer. When a want will lead to a temper tantrum, stifle that want and avoid it at all costs. Children are watching your every move as a parent, and so it is good to be disciplined and non-entitled in relation to children, in order to show them the way.

Teaching good values to your children requires a good Christian example for children to follow. However, every good example should be backed up by something. Punitive parenting such as spanking and punishment only drives children away from the values of their parents, as children who are punished and treated in a controlling demeanor growing up develop resentment and rebellion against their parents. Attachment parenting is the only true way to pass down good Judeo-Christian family values. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ Sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting in the submission of parents, owing absolutely nothing in relation to parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners who are deserving of absolutely nothing, from their children or anyone else. Respect in parenting is to be earned, with parents bearing the burden of proof in terms of a mutual submission relationship with their children.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards a child. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment in biblical times was seen as holding a child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular belief, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Attachment parenting was the norm in biblical times. The Early Christians, as well as their Jewish predecessors, used a specific and distinct type of attachment parenting that deified children. Children were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God, with children being seen then as being called by God to convict all mankind of his charitable side. The topic of children, for the Early Christians, was a sobering and convicting topic. Children were installments of God, who were installed by God to bring out the charity in adults, then judge it. Children issued lawful and binding orders then as to what they wanted and needed by crying or whining. Children could take their parents to court, and by the time it got to the church elders, the case was already decided in favor of the child. Children got much of what they wanted, and everything they needed, having much lobbying power in relation to parents and other adults.

Children, in biblical times, wore no clothing, at all, until they became adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise went in the nude, in order to serve their husbands and their children, separately. Mothers served children by way of providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. The core of Christian attachment parenting is skin-on-skin co-sleeping, with mother and child being fast asleep in the nude, and children soaking up the rays of skin-to-skin contact. Children went naked in biblical times for a specific reason - so mothers could easily snuggle them up and cuddle them up when they were crying or upset, with the skin-on-skin element of the mother-child interaction reassuring the child quickly. For the first six years of childhood, time with children was to be spent together. For the last six years of childhood, time with children was to be spent apart, with fathers lovingly encouraging bold feats of independence. "Last six years" today refers to the teen years, meaning instead of trying to force a bond that is naturally severing, parents should loudly and lavishly encourage bold feats of independence in children. The goal of biblical parenting was independence, not slavish obedience to authority.

Attachment parenting can be used as a tool to teach any values system to children, including good Judeo-Christian family values. When parents use attachment parenting instead of punitive parenting, children want to be like their parents. When parents are role models for our founding Judeo-Christian family values, children absorb the values like a sponge. There is no need to punish children to back up a good Christian example. Just pamper them with attachment parenting to back it up, and you create a safe place where they can learn good values without fear of punishment. Punishment discourages children from learning good family values, whereas attachment parenting allows them to safely absorb the values of their parents.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

How to teach discipline to children - without spanking or punishment

Most parents want to teach discipline to their children. However, most of these parents think the only way to teach discipline to a child is to punish them, including through spanking and corporal punishment. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. The fact of the matter is that there is another way to teach discipline - modeling it, alongside attachment parenting.

Discipline is the absence of entitlement, including in an example set by parents. The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, want, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, this word refers to the slightest of unattainable want in life. Most entitlement, including in parents, comes from a deserving attitude towards others. You, as a parent, are a depraved and decadent sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing, and are to be grateful for absolutely everything. This attitude forms a chastened up attitude for children to follow.

Children should follow the example of parents, meaning emulate parents who are always grateful. and never entitled. However, any good example needs to be backed up by something. Punitive parenting drives children far from an example of discipline, and makes them angry and resentful. Attachment parenting is the only way to back up a non-entitled, disciplined example in relation to children. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents, owing absolutely nothing to parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners who are deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or anyone else. Respect for parents is to be earned from children, with the burden of proof falling on parents.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Children, in biblical times, wore no clothing, at all, until they became adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise wore no clothing, in order to serve their husbands and their children, separately. Mothers served their children by way of providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting is skin-on-skin co-sleeping, where mother and child are fast asleep in the nude, with children soaking up the rays of skin-to-skin contact. Children went naked for a reason - so that mothers could easily snuggle them up and cuddle them up, pampering them with skin-on-skin comforting strategies, in total bliss! For the first six years of childhood, time with children was to be spent together. For the last six years of childhood, time with children was to be spent apart, with fathers encouraging bold feats of independence in children, showing any feat of independence with lavish praise and encouragement. "The last six years", today, translates to the teen years. Independence was the goal in biblical times for parents, in a discipled, non-entitled way.

Discipline is best taught by example, with parents being strict with themselves, modeling strictness instead of imposing it. A strict upbringing, in biblical times, usually meant that the parents were strict with themselves, and invited children to be strict with themselves as well. Attachment parenting created a safe place where children could learn discipline and non-entitlement, by trial and error, and with parents being a role model for discipline and non-entitlement. When parents form a secure parent-child bond with their child, their child wants to be like their parents, and thus when parents themselves are discipline, so will children learn to be.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Thanksgiving: How to be thankful for your child

It is November, meaning Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Thanksgiving, as a holiday, is about giving thanks to what you have, and so we are talking on this blog a lot about gratitude and thanksgiving for children. Most parents think they are thankful for their children, but they aren't. Most parents simply take their children for granted. However, God said to be thankful for children. Having children is a luxury, not a right.

Being thankful for your child does not come in a vacuum. The giving of thanks for your child comes from Christian love for your child. This love is denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to, in the context of parenting, prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, to the point of dutiful and selfless submission to the every vulnerable need of children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, valuing children as extensions of God. True Love does not come from pride or desire, but from a place of fearful conviction, where parents are convicted of the fact that they are depraved and decadent sinners who are deserving of absolutely nothing, from children and others. This prompts the sinner/parent to pay due penance by serving their child. Children in biblical times were seen as the neighbor of children, not the enemy.

The phrase "expecting absolutely nothing in return" is key to understand gratitude and thanksgiving, as it implies not expecting anything, period. When you are convicted that you are deserving of absolutely nothing, you expect nothing from anyone, and then you end up being thankful for what you have. Being truly thankful for your child involves knowing you don't deserve anything from your child, and you don't deserve your child either.

Children are extensions of God on earth, called to convict all of adult-kind of their charitable side, as installments of God. In the Early Church, as well as Ancient Israel, children were seen as installments of God called to bring out the charity in adults, and then judge them for how charitable the adults were. The topic of children, then, was a sobering and convicting topic for adults in the Early Church, as well as preceding Jewish society. Parents were thankful for whatever their children brought to them, meaning any joy that children brought was something parents were thankful for. Parents even took joy in the mischief and misdeeds of children. Children in Ancient Israel and the Early Church could do no wrong in the eyes of adults, even if they did.

The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, including parental entitlement, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. However, the unofficial definition of parental entitlement is wanting things from children, period. It is not good to want anything in life, including from children, but since we all want things from children, it is good to ask politely and appropriately for things from children, and accept when children can't or won't give us what we want. Most parental entitlement comes from a deserving attitude towards children. You, as a parent, are a depraved and decadent sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or anyone else. Then, once you take that attitude towards your children, you will be thankful for your children, meaning each and every one of them individually, taking note of their every trait and preference, providing for them thereby. Deadly entitlement is want imposed on another person. Deadly entitlement towards children, meaning deadly parental entitlement, becomes child abuse once the imposed wants are perceived by the child. See Colossians 3:21 KJV:

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offenses perceived by the child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen then as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your own child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child. Paul, here, and in the secular pamphlets accompanying the epistle, was ultimately trying to instill gratitude for children in Greek and Roman Christian parents, and the only way to do that is to convict them of their sins towards their child. 

This Thanksgiving, be grateful for your child, giving thanks for the every joy they bring to you. You could lose that child at any time, perhaps to early death or other calamities. You are not deserving of the child you have, or anything from them. God can take away your child at any time, and He has to some parents. So, be thankful for your child.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!