O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Psalm 78:1-7
Children are always learning. It is how we are created; we are born with
brains that are sponges for information.
By the time you’re my age you may be a little overly-saturated with
useless stuff you’ve managed to sop up in 7 decades. And, while my little mind, a hard-drive full
of thoughts, memories, conflicts, joys, sorrows, and wondering may be slowing
down under the weight, children are just getting started.
This Psalm reminds us of the importance
of pointing children in the right direction.
That statement immediately draws forth the question, what if the
kids won’t go to school? This applies
in a variety of ways. Most kids haven’t
seen the inside of a classroom for the past year; they’re still learning. That goes for church also – at least being
in the building; they may be worshipping if their parents have
taken the time and energy to create a home-worship atmosphere. Many kids have had to settle for
screen-relationships to understand friendship-building.
We live in a challenging time. Wow – talk about the understatement of the
year! Perhaps 2020 will be remembered as
the year of pandemic learning and political leaning. Whatever history books (or learning modules,
if you will) record of 2020’s dozen months of pandemic, it will certainly have
to include the coronavirus as an epic political hot potato, straining personal patience,
political tolerance, and parenting creativity to the fullest extent the
envelope could withstand…and beyond!
And, still, the children are learning.
The question becomes, what ARE
they learning? The short answer
is whatever they’re being taught. Or, perhaps more appropriately, whatever
they’ve caught. The familiar saying one picture is worth a
thousand words comes to mind. We
ordinarily think of words, lectures, and tests when the subject is
learning. But life skills of manners in relationship,
personal integrity, faith, citizenship, and responsibility are never best
taught in a classroom; these are matters of observation and reinforcement by
the ones most significant in the lives of children.
Dorothy Law Nolte wrote a poem, which later expanded into a book, detailing the premise that children learn volumes more from seeing what others do, rather than the direct instruction of words and lessons. The poem begins with the negative, and navigates to the positive:
Children Learn What They Live
If children live with criticism, they
learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they
learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they
learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn
to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement,
they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they
learn to be patient.
If children live with praise, they learn
to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance, they
learn to love.
If children live with approval, they
learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty, they
learn truthfulness.
If children live with security, they
learn to have faith in themselves and others.
If children live with friendliness, they
learn the world is a nice place in which to live.[1]
Whatever the children of this generation
have learned about themselves, the world, God, and the human family during this
year will directly and accurately reflect how we adults have acted during this
year.
For You Today
Is it begging a debate to ask what have you thrown in 2020 that
others have caught? And, the
companion question, will 2021 be different?
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!
Title image: Pixabay.com W Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
For another post on this text see: Passing Along the Faith
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