Biblical Answer

What does it mean to 'love my neighbor as myself' in modern parenting?

In modern parenting, loving our neighbor as ourselves means displaying a set of behaviors towards our children, family, and community. It is not about feeling a certain way or having affectionate feelings towards them, but rather about acting as if we do. This means showing kindness, compassion, and humility towards others, even when we do not feel like it. As the Bible says, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10, NIV).

In practical terms, this means putting the needs of others before our own, being willing to serve and sacrifice for the benefit of others, and being patient and understanding when dealing with difficult people. It also means being willing to admit when we are wrong and apologize for our mistakes. As the apostle Paul writes, "Serve one another humbly in love" (Galatians 5:13, NIV). This is not just a feeling, but a choice we make every day to love and serve others, even when it is hard.

In modern parenting, this means teaching our children to love and serve others, not just when they feel like it, but as a way of life. We can do this by modeling loving behavior ourselves, by teaching our children the importance of kindness, compassion, and humility, and by encouraging them to serve and help others. By doing so, we can help our children develop a strong sense of love and compassion for others, and teach them the importance of loving their neighbor as themselves. As Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31, NIV), and by doing so, we can fulfill the law and live a life of love and service to others.