TEACH THEM NOW!
TEACH THEM NOW!
I recently had a baby. He is a very lovely, cuddly and peaceful baby. He is also very fashionable! Yes you heard me right. I said fashionable! He coordinates his colours, he matches shoes to socks to tops. In all he is always such a cutie to behold.
A couple of weeks ago, I was sorting out clothes he would wear for the next week (I do that on Saturdays,) and I took such a long time. When I finished, I sighed, got off the stool I had been sitting on and stretched. While I was stretching a feeling of guilt came over me and I felt God telling me that I had spent way too much time on something that was only a matter of physical aesthetics. And He further said how nice it would be if I spent some of that time reading scripture out loud to my baby. And as always this got me thinking. I was reminded of my years as an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, when one of my lecturers, then Dr. Moradewun Adejunmobi (now Professor at the University of California, Davis.) used to encourage us as students of the French Language to have our radios tuned in permanently to a French station in order to improve our fluency in speech. She said the native way of speaking would be embedded in our subconscious and before long we would be speaking like native speakers.
As I remembered this, it became clear to me that I should indeed be reading scripture out loud to my baby in order to get it into his subconscious. So for those of us who have signed off raising children and have moved on to doting on and spoiling our grand children, this is something you can tell your children to do and if their schedules are really so tight perhaps grandma or grandpa would be happy to read aloud to them. Let us not imagine for a moment that it will be a waste of time. Surely not. I assure you, the practice will yield forth fruits in abundance. The Psalms and Proverbs are very good reads and most of them are in form of poetry which makes it easier to follow. I am asking for grace to do this with my son and I will be expectant of amazing results.
So this is what the Lord is saying: “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Deuteronomy 6: 7 NLT The above scripture just says “to your children.” It does not specify any age. Therefore no age is too young to start repeating the word of God to them. As a matter of fact research has proven that children hear even from the womb. I also perceive that it is better to fill their subconscious with stuff as beautiful and powerful as God’s word rather than anything else. Nursery rhymes are great and I play some of those too. I have recorded a video of a song I composed especially for my son . And it has the effect of calming him down if he is irritable. Yet I just know that the word of God would have a greater soothing effect on him. “….for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body..” Proverbs 4 :22 NLT From the above scripture it follows that the word of God will have a positive effect on the physical body.
So as we prepare to celebrate Children’s Day in a few days let us be reminded that we are custodians of these children. We must protect them from the evil that is out there. We have been asked to raise Godly offspring. “Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.” Malachi 2:15 NLT How do we raise Godly children if we do not immerse them in the word of God? Well mannered and well behaved children may not be Godly but Godly children will always be well mannered and well behaved. So now is the time to train them. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22: 6 KJV As they grow old they will not have identity issues, (they will already know that they are wonderfully and fearfully made); issues with greed or stealing will be far removed from them, (they will know that Godliness with contentment is great gain); suicidal thoughts will never cross their minds (for when they are overwhelmed they will go to the Rock that is higher than them). Let us ground them in the word of God now before the world swoops down on them. Teach them at home. Do not wait for the school teachers or the Sunday school teachers.
BE THEIR FIRST TEACHER. LET US TEACH THEM NOW!
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©