Parenting within the Black Christian community in the UK presents unique challenges and complexities, deeply rooted in cultural history and societal dynamics. At a recent online discussion hosted by Keep The Faith, psychotherapist and ordained minister Dr. Kenisha Jackson offered profound insights into nurturing emotionally resilient children amidst these complexities.
Dr. Jackson, who leads KEW Education and Therapy, emphasized the critical role of Scripture in guiding Christian parents. “Up until recently I would have said there’s no manual for raising children,” she shared. “But we do have a manual, we have the Word of God.” She urged parents to first reflect on their own identity in Christ as a foundation for effective parenting.
“Knowing who we are really is the essence of everything,” Dr. Jackson asserted, highlighting self-awareness as a cornerstone for cultivating children who are secure and faith-rooted. She stressed that parenting should extend beyond church teachings to embody lived experiences at home.
“Children are watching all the time,” she noted. “It’s not ‘do what I say’, it’s ‘do what I do’.” This observation underscores the importance of modeling faith through daily actions, as children develop their understanding of spirituality by observing the adults around them.
Addressing the systemic challenges that Black children face, Dr. Jackson drew from her extensive experience with the NHS and the education sector to point out issues such as higher school exclusion rates and limited access to mental health services. “These are not statistics, these are real people with real lived experiences,” she emphasized.
Central to her message was the necessity for both spiritual and emotional healing, particularly in light of generational trauma. “We’ve learned as a community to just keep going,” she observed, “but the body keeps the score.” She encouraged parents to confront these issues through spiritual means, ensuring that parenting is not influenced by unresolved pain.
Dr. Jackson advocated for prayer as a pivotal strategy in addressing challenges, stating, “There are some challenges that are bigger than us … we have to pray to get to the root of what is happening.” Equipping children with truth and wisdom was also highlighted as crucial, referencing the proverb, “Train up a child in the way they should go, and they may stray, but they will come back.”
Effective communication, she advised, should be imbued with Christ-like love. “When a child is being yelled at, they feel it,” she remarked. “They can quickly feel ‘I’m not loved’.” Recognizing imperfections in parenting, she reassured, “There is no such thing as perfect parenting. You’re parenting your child at this stage, for the first time.”
In framing parenting as both a spiritual and practical responsibility, Dr. Jackson suggested that success lies not merely in outcomes but in remaining receptive to divine guidance. “Success for me looks like being open … and not being afraid of the unknown,” she concluded. “Sometimes it’s bigger than what we see in the natural.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
