Write It on Their Hearts

by

Rev. Richard Fisher

Rita Kramer has 8 children. In a recent book she describes a day in the life of a mother: "Hey, mom, Rory's playing in the toilet again!" "Mom, Mom, Todd said if I don't find his fish hooks, he's going to dump water on my bed!" "Mom, Josh is eating a big spoonful of something brown. It smells like peanut butter. He's sitting on your bed. He got some of it on your pillow too, I think." "Mom, Uncle Bob called while you were in town. He said they want to come down for the weekend. He said they were all packed up and would be coming as soon as they got all the kids stuffed into their mini van." Rita Kramer then informs us: "It was 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning."

Mothers, I realize raising children can be a challenge. There are different ideas as to what makes a good mother or father today.

Our youngest daughter who lives in Kansas, who is a mother, quotes some of the experts on child rearing. It wasn’t until recently when I was quoting a news story that I realized how much I do the same thing. Today I would like to share some truths from the Bible on what we need to do to be a godly parent.

The major part of being a parent is to have the Word of God in our hearts and by faith to practice it in our lives. Deuteronomy 6:6 says “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” We cannot pass on what we don't possess.

More is caught that taught. Children observe our lives and as they see love, faith, obedience in our lives they may copy our actions and then start holding the convictions in their heart.

The next most important truth is to start early to instruct your children. Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Now the challenge here is not that we preach to them or lecture them. Rather, we should talk to them in a friendly, familiar, and encouraging way. This will mostly happen through casual conversations and life lessons. Notice in the gospels that Jesus taught spiritual principles as situations arose. I think it is one of the most effective ways to teach.

One of the ways to express the love of God is to be concerned with the spiritual welfare of our children and strive to bring them into a faithful relationship with Christ.

(Mother’s Influence)

I took a piece of plastic clay

And idly fashioned it on day;

And as my fingers pressed it still.

It moved and yielded at my will.

I came again when days were past,

The form I gave it still it bore,

And as my fingers pressed it still,

I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay,

And gently formed it day by day.

And molded with my power and art.

A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;

It was a man I looked upon,

He still that early impress bore.

And I could change it never more.

-The Bible Friend