Children are a big part of life. In fact, they seem to radiate life. If you walk down the hall of nursing home with a child's hand in your own the faces of all those who see you, or rather the child, will light up. Children are believers, trusting, hopeful, creative, and always looking to something they have yet to obtain and yet are still content with what they have.
Children have always been a big part of my life. And it is from these little people that I have learned many things. The five boys I used to babysit taught me how to climb hay bales, scrape feed, play with their farm animals, and also kindly inform me that they can do somethings better without my help (like build their Lego trucks and planes.) They taught me how to deal with conflict and laugh at their antics. The children at church teach me what love is when they share their toys and books and hug their mothers close. My music students teach me to explore and wonder and learn and overcome hard things.
Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (NKJV) The word "train" speaks of instruction and practice. I find it interesting that God's call to parents is to instruct children in the way they should go. He does not say "your child is to be perfect" or "make your child be whatever it is you have in mind for him to be." because the truth of the matter is that parents cannot make their children do or be anything. Children are not to be brainwashed.They are meant to live at home for certain number of years under the supervision and wisdom of their parents and then they must move on and serve God on their own two feet. The years spent at home are when parents do the most training.
Children are not perfect. They're sinful. That's why they need training. The thing about training is that it takes time, practice, and patience. Do not expect your child to act as if they know what to do after instructing them once. No music student has yet to come to their second lesson and know where middle C is.
All that being said, I would like to say a great big "thank you!" to the parents that are patiently and tirelessly training their children. I watch your struggle with great appreciation. It's not fun to discipline your two-year-old over and over again for throwing his food; but don't worry, one day he will no longer throw his food thanks to your efforts. I know very feel adults who throw their food and society at large is better for it. It's not fun to tell your pre-teen to help out more and change her clothes again into modest apparel and do her homework. She will be a better woman, friend, wife, and mother for it. It's not fun to listen to your sons' continual wrestling or cleaning their dirty clothes or enforcing curfew. They will be better leaders, workers, husbands, and fathers because of it.
Thank you for allowing your children to learn simple things like using crayons and scissors to more difficult things like helping a friend and baking cookies. Your child makes mistakes. You make mistakes. God's grace is great.
No, your job does not look fun. But it is extremely important. The future of the world depends on how you train your children. They, and you, are a gift to this world. May you use your time wisely and may your children have the training they need. My prayers are with you.
Children have always been a big part of my life. And it is from these little people that I have learned many things. The five boys I used to babysit taught me how to climb hay bales, scrape feed, play with their farm animals, and also kindly inform me that they can do somethings better without my help (like build their Lego trucks and planes.) They taught me how to deal with conflict and laugh at their antics. The children at church teach me what love is when they share their toys and books and hug their mothers close. My music students teach me to explore and wonder and learn and overcome hard things.
Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (NKJV) The word "train" speaks of instruction and practice. I find it interesting that God's call to parents is to instruct children in the way they should go. He does not say "your child is to be perfect" or "make your child be whatever it is you have in mind for him to be." because the truth of the matter is that parents cannot make their children do or be anything. Children are not to be brainwashed.They are meant to live at home for certain number of years under the supervision and wisdom of their parents and then they must move on and serve God on their own two feet. The years spent at home are when parents do the most training.
Children are not perfect. They're sinful. That's why they need training. The thing about training is that it takes time, practice, and patience. Do not expect your child to act as if they know what to do after instructing them once. No music student has yet to come to their second lesson and know where middle C is.
All that being said, I would like to say a great big "thank you!" to the parents that are patiently and tirelessly training their children. I watch your struggle with great appreciation. It's not fun to discipline your two-year-old over and over again for throwing his food; but don't worry, one day he will no longer throw his food thanks to your efforts. I know very feel adults who throw their food and society at large is better for it. It's not fun to tell your pre-teen to help out more and change her clothes again into modest apparel and do her homework. She will be a better woman, friend, wife, and mother for it. It's not fun to listen to your sons' continual wrestling or cleaning their dirty clothes or enforcing curfew. They will be better leaders, workers, husbands, and fathers because of it.
Thank you for allowing your children to learn simple things like using crayons and scissors to more difficult things like helping a friend and baking cookies. Your child makes mistakes. You make mistakes. God's grace is great.
No, your job does not look fun. But it is extremely important. The future of the world depends on how you train your children. They, and you, are a gift to this world. May you use your time wisely and may your children have the training they need. My prayers are with you.
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