Train up a child
Pr 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it. (RSV)
When I was little, I would go out by the barn
on grandpa's farm, and watch the cows eat. I remember staring
at their eyes, wondering what they were thinking. I watched
and listened carefully. I noticed how big their lips were. I
wondered if their runny nose tickled like mine did when it was
runny. I heard the crunching sound as they chewed the hay. It
intrigued me that they chewed in a side to side motion rather
than up and down. I would go to dinner and try to imitate a
cow eating. I listened to their heavy breathing, and observed
that once in a while they would stop, exhale quickly through
the nose, turn their head, and then continue on. I learned their
different ways of mooing and could imitate them to almost perfection.
One day, I got so engrossed in watching them eat, that I just
had to try some hay for myself. I ate it just like they did
(except I did use my hands to pick out a piece that looked clean
and tasty) and tried to make the grinding sound that they could
make.
Children are impressionable. They are watching
when adults don't realize it, and they are learning things that
adults sometimes don't realize they are learning. The greatest
responsibility given to parents is to raise their children in
an environment that is allowing them to observe and imitate
Christ-like behavior. The tastes, sights, sounds, feelings,
and smells of a loving and forgiving family have a pleasant
and profound impact on the children.
May God grant the church the opportunity to witness
to children, that they may be touched in a way that is life-changing.
May we give children the opportunity to see, smell, taste, feel,
and hear Christ in His Word.
William Hiskey
Director of Youth Ministries, First English Lutheran,
Spencer IA
Updated: 8-20-2002
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