Teaching our children

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Psalm 111:10

Have you ever realized how much we teach our children?  From the moment they are born, we start teaching them.  They learn that they can depend on us to meet their needs, from food to sleep to diapers.  We teach them to sit up, to crawl, to walk.  We teach them how to eat with a spoon, to say "Mama" or "Dada."  There's the struggle of teaching them to use the potty, the challenge of teaching them to tie their shoes.  Every moment as a parent is a teachable moment.

Think about our verse for today, though.  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  The most important thing we can ever teach our children is the fear of the Lord.  What does it mean to fear the Lord?  This website says, "The word for fear here means "reverential fear." It means that one must be serious about their relationship to God. People who "fear" the Lord are not anxious about their relationship to him, or afraid of Him, they take very seriously their responsibility to Him."  From day one, we should be teaching our children about their relationship with Christ.  We bring them to the baptismal fount, cementing that relationship and making them a member of God's family.   

It doesn't stop at the baptismal fount, though.  Every day, every moment, we have the opportunity to help our children grow in their faith.  I think about all the ways we do this in our home: praying at mealtimes and bedtime, doing devotions, going to church and Sunday School.  I try not to let a day go by without telling the kids how much Jesus loves them.  We talk about sin when they misbehave, and the wonderful forgiveness of sins that Jesus gave them on the cross.  It's those teachable moments that are so very important.  Even more important than learning to tie their shoes.  This teaching brings them eternal life.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for our children.  We praise you for the joy they bring into our lives.  Watch over us as we help them grow.  Be with us as we teach them about You and Your love for us.  Help us to grow their faith so that they can someday teach their own children about You.  In Your name we pray, Amen.