Children Learn What They Live

When we lived in Pennsylvania there was a picture/poem hanging in the office of our pediatrician. It was the familiar poem "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Nolte. I remember sitting with my children, waiting for the doctor many times reading that poem. While I may not have agreed with all of its points, I think the principle is true.

Do your children see you reading the scriptures with some consistency? Do they hear you talk to your spouse or others about those things you have read and learned. Do you talk to them about what you have learned? Do they see you serving others out of love and not duty? Do you go to church for worship with an attitude of joy? Do your children hear you complain about these things? Jesus tells us if we keep His commandments and abide in His love His joy will remain in us and our joy will be full. (John 15:10,11) Do you experience a joy in your walk with the Lord? Our attitudes toward reading the scriptures, going to church for worship, attending church functions, and serving others should be reflective of joy. Many times we do not realize that our words of complaint or inconvenience about these things reflect a joyless attitude that will easily be picked up by the youngest child.

It is hard to keep children focused as we teach them the things of the Lord. Children would much rather play and do what they want to do than learn scripture verses, study the Children's Catechism or go to church. That is all very normal. In fact, we all struggle with that at different times and we need to be honest with them about that. However, I believe our attitudes about these things can have a positive or negative effect on them. If they think the Christian walk is a chore for us it will become a chore for them. If they think it is a joy for us it will become a joy for them.

Even our daily attitudes toward our spouses, children and tasks can have an effect on our children. If we cannot find joy in our daily tasks and remember that we are doing them to the glory of God, how can we expect them to find joy in them and not complain as we give them their own tasks?

Deuteronomy 6: 6,7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart, you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

These words will have more impact on our children as they see us walking in the joy of His word.
I believe as our children see this joy in us, it will become part of their lives - something we'll share together.