Make an Impression that Will Last

by | May 29, 2012

Deuteronomy 6:6-7    “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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.”

We often wonder what is happening to today’s generation and every generation wonders the same thing about the one coming up but what gets done about it?

If you have children what do you do to help them know the word of God?  Do they see you read your Bible?  Do you read Bible stories to them?  Do you talk with them about doing what is right based on Bible principles?  Children learn what they live so even when children are adopted some of their behaviors are learned responses and if you have given birth to your children we know genetics can play a role in behaviors too but we can overcome any behavior by instilling what is right based on what God says.

If you don’t have children of your own yet I would encourage you to find the opportunity to be a godly influence in a child’s life that you know.  Maybe you have nieces or nephews or maybe you could work in the Sunday school at your church or maybe at a daycare.  The key is that every child needs at least one adult in their life that absolutely adores them and cares enough to teach them the word of God.

I was very fortunate to have Godly parents who were great at showing how important God’s word was to them.  I can remember them reading short devotionals to us after dinner every night whether we wanted it or not.  I always knew both of my parents read their Bibles every day because I saw them do it and as a result I find that it is something that I treasure and do myself.  My day seems lacking if I am not reading my Bible and I am not the woman I should be either if I miss.  Maybe you didn’t have parents that embedded that in your mind but there isn’t a good reason on earth to not start that habit in your own life today!

It may seem a little thing to allow your children to know that you read your Bible or it may seem to be a little thing to read a child Bible stories but they will remember.  Children learn by our example and they learn what they live.  The “do as I say not as I do” theory doesn’t work.  I read a book years ago the title is, “Children Are Wet Cement” and it was all about the importance of the impressions we make on their lives.  We can make a difference in this next generation but believe it or not it starts with us!  We can’t teach what we don’t know ourselves and live when it comes to children and teens!

Quote:  “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they’ve never failed to imitate them.”  James Baldwin

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