Your Child Is Learning - But What?
Many parents seem to feel that their children's education starts only when they enter school. To them "learning" means only what is derived from books and classes and teachers. They do not realize that from the very first breath the child draws he begins to learn. By the time he enters school, psychologists tell us, the child has already learned more than he will in all the rest of his life put together! The first few years are the most important. Impressions are made then, attitudes developed, habits formed that will go with the child to his grave.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) Do we, as parents actually believe this positive statement from the pen of inspiration? There are times when it is hard to understand why the children of some of the most consecrated Christians fall by the wayside, or perhaps never even find the path of righteousness at all. This may lead some to doubt the truthfulness of what Solomon said. But all the history of the race has proved him right. For Solomon did not say, "Try to train a child;" he said, "Train up a child". There is a great difference. When a child has been trained he will not depart from it.
The Parents' Responsibility
We would often be horror-stricken to know what we are actually teaching our children by our examples. Our words may be saying one thing; our examples the very opposite. Upon the arrival of a baby in our home we, as parents, pray that the child may have at least average intelligence, and that he may be lovely to look upon. We spend hundreds of dollars (all we can possibly spare) and sacrifice things we would love to have or do for ourselves in order that our children may have an education. We want to prepare them to make their way in the world.
But how many of us pray with equal fervor that God may give us wisdom in training that same child spiritually? How many of us are willing to make the same sacrifices for a spiritual education for our child that we gladly make for an earthly education? We are responsible for the souls of our children. God has placed them in our care. We are responsible not only for their earthly welfare, but also for their spiritual guidance.
Learning At The Picture Show
The children of the neighborhood always go to the show on Saturday. Mother is busy with her cleaning and preparation for Sunday. Johnny is always under foot. What a relief to send him off to the show for a couple of hours!
But what is Johnny learning at the show? Is he seeing the things that will improve his morality, or is he learning to dance, drink, gamble, and cheat? Is he learning that the best way to be "popular" is to do those things which a Christian cannot do? Is he learning that if he doesn't like his wife, he can so easily divorce her and get another? The lessons Johnny learns at this age will stay with him through life. They may be covered up by later teaching, but they are never erased.
Concerning The Church
What are we really teaching our children about the church? We give Johnny 50 to go to the show, buy a comic book, or a bag of popcorn. Then Sunday morning we give him a nickel (maybe a dime) for the contribution. Are we not saying to him in the most impressive way possible, "It is much more important to have fun in life than it is to give to the Lord?" How much better this would be: Give each child an allowance each week (or, better still, let him earn some money) then impress on him from the very first that the Lord is to get the biggest portion of the money he has. If he spends 50c for pleasure, then let him give more that 50c to the church. For, make no mistake about it, your child is learning by these simple little practices.
Learning From The Home
What is your child learning about home life? Is he learning that home is a place where father and moths truly love each other? Is he learning that home is place where the Bible is read daily? Is he learning that home is a place where prayers are often heard? Or, of the other hand, is he learning that home is a place where gay parties are the event that excites most interest! Where the Bible and God and the church are rarely topics of conversation? Where only earthly and material things are of interest?
When your child is put to bed at night, do you on the bed beside him or her, and let the little one talk of the day's experiences? Do you remind them to thankful for all God's blessings? If they have been disobedient, do you tell them to ask God's forgiveness, a well as mothers? A child, of course, does not sin; be if we do not teach them, from the very earliest years to ask forgiveness and to recognize that God is ever present, how can we ever make them truly conscious of the reality of God? If properly taught at an age a two or three years, this sense of God's nearness can become so much a part of a child's life that he will never "depart from it." What a foundation for a Christian life!
Learning From Our Conversation
Do our children hear us discuss the church and he work, or is all our conversation about business and pleasure? Children should know (without being told that their parents are interested in the work of the church. They cannot, indeed, be told this; they must simply absorb it from the atmosphere and conversation of the home.
When children return with parents from a church service, are they conscious of having worshipped God, do they come home filled with gossipy comments about Mrs. Brown's dowdy old hat, or Brother Jones' snoring during the sermon, or Brother Smith's shiny new Cadillac?
Our children are dearer to us than all the treasure of earth. Their lives mean more to us than our very own. But, more than that, their souls are of infinite more. We would rather see our children devoted Christian and penniless than to see them live in palaces of go and ivory without Christ. We are teaching these precious children every hour of their lives. They are learning—learning from us, their parents, far more than they ever learn from books or classes or teachers.
They are learning, all right—but the question is what?