Doubts hit all of us every day.  There are times in our lives when we are very confident and make decisions knowing the results will be what we want. 

Other times we question our decisions.  Small doubts: I doubt I’ll do well on an exam, or large doubts: Did I marry the right person?  Our children have doubts as well.  We can help our children by raising them in a secure, happy home.  But that isn’t always possible if we as parents are going through a difficult time financially or emotionally.  They’ll pick up on our problems and their decisions are clouded by how they might affect us.

Pyrrho was a young Greek who joined Alexander of Macedonia’s army.  During his travels, his thinking led him to produce the Greek philosophical school of Skepticism.  He stated that no knowledge could be known for certain, whether scientific, moral, religious or metaphysical.  We must suspend judgment, which will lead us to a state of mind known as Ataraxia – a complete calmness of the soul.  He is remembered as the ultimate anxious doubter who was not sure of anything.  Very sad!

Doubt will happen.  Sometimes doubt even saves us from decisions that have not been well thought out.  In general, doubts freeze our progress and hurt our chances of success.  So how do we help ourselves and our children?

Establish firm foundations in your home against which decisions can be examined.  For example if I establish my home on Biblical standards, my foundations are: I will be honest in everything I do; treat others as I know I want to be treated; integrity will be the foundation on how I conduct my business.  When choices come, I know 90% of what goes into making that decision.  It’s easy.  Have we established foundations in our homes? Do our children know what they are?

Doubts will attack us, but that doesn’t mean that we will allow them to master us.  Have family or friends who will honestly and confidentially give good advice.  Be active in your children’s lives so you can quickly see the doubt in their eyes as they make decisions about school, friends, where they “hang” out.  Tell your children that you are so interested that they make good choices, that you will take the blame from their friends if the choice they make is based on the standards of your home (for example not going to places you know alcohol and drugs are available).

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.