How, where and from whom do our children learn the most valuable lessons in life?

Is this the school’s job? True, teachers have excellent training and are gifted in teaching. In the 1970’s, I visited several Communist countries and was appalled at the result of 2 decades of communist training. Hardly any person under 20 years old knew anything about the Bible except that their Grandmothers still read it. Governments and government trained teachers can educate entire generations in their ideology.

Do we send our children into the streets and then cry because they’ve chosen poor friends who have led them down wrong paths? Are we proud that our children know how to surf the internet and discover all kinds of useful – and very destructive information that develop into habits? Are we so busy in our own rush toward success that we have no time for our children? They are left to maids or even their older siblings? Or do we send them to the church so they have catechism classes, are baptized and now set for eternity?

NO! Our job as parents is to train our children in the way they should go. The Lord promises us in Proverbs 22:6 that, “When they are old, they will not forget the things of the Lord that they have been taught.” Think of the way we teach our children as you read this poem by an unknown author:

How a Child Learns

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.
If a Child lives with hostility,
she learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
she learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
she learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
she learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
she learns to like herself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

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.