Monthly Archives: November 2020

Children and Santa

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child

Children and Santa

       For a long time, Santa has been our society’s focal point of Christmas.  He, no doubt, has sold many million dollars worth of toys.  He has produced much laughter.  He has caused the eyes of children to light up.  In reality, he has been the only reason many people observe Christmas.

         What is the current status of Santa?  Our computer-literate generation of children is not easily fooled.  In truth, how many of us grown-ups ever really believed in Santa?  Some children were fooled simply because they believed that their parents would never lie to them.  Others believed because they thought that by believing, they might get more gifts. Many of us could easily see the impossibility of someone flying around the whole world in one night and stopping at each house and going down each chimney.  We felt that it was insulting our intelligence to expect us to believe such a far-out story.  

         Today, we have many fat Santas at malls, department stores, parades, etc.  Do we really think that our children are not intelligent enough to figure out that they are too big to fit in a chimney?  Even a toddler can question why there are so many Santas.  

         A bigger question involves the feelings of a child who truly believes in Santa because he trusts his parents to never lie, and then finds out that the parents did, indeed, lie to him/her.  What happens, then, when the parents tell the child about an invisible Jesus?  For that matter, can the child believe the parents at any time if they deceived them with a Santa?  

         Our children cannot be shielded from Santa.  Our society sees to it that Santa is visible over and over.  It is a situation we must deal with.  We don’t want to rob our children of the fun of Christmas, but, at the same time, we don’t want our children to lose trust in us. A parent cannot avoid making a decision as to how to handle Santa.

         One idea for parents is to tell the children that to pretend there is a Santa is a fun game that is played at Christmastime.  Just as children play pretend in other areas, parents play pretend with the child about Santa. When little girls play pretend “mommy” with dolls, or little boys may play pretend” soldier with army toys, they do not really think they are grown.  It is alright to play pretend as long as children can come back to reality. This stimulates creativity. By letting the children know up front that Santa is a pretend game, future disappointment is eliminated.  It would be a good idea to explain that Santa represents giving and making others happy.  That is something that Jesus wants us to do. 

         Santa will probably be around for a long time to come, but deceiving children should end. We should never lie to children.   

         It is important that we create a pleasing experience for children at Christmas without leaving them with the feeling at a later time that they have been deceived.  Different personalities handle this in different ways.  Ultimately, whatever means is used, children should be left with understamding the real meaning of Christmas.  Children need to understand that Christmas is a celebration of the time that God sent his only son into the world to show His love for us.  

True Thankfulness

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.patlambhristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

True Thankfulness

I remember how good it felt when our children were small and they would run to us, throw their arms around our neck and say, “Thanks, Mom”, or “Thanks, Dad”.  There was no doubt in our minds that they really meant it.

Sometimes, we may feel “guilted” into saying thanks.  We keep hearing others say that we should be thankful, so we try to be thankful when we are not really feeling it.  Our kids may be feeling the same way.  After all, how can we really be truly thankful if we have never had to do without the things we have.  We don’t miss what we have always had. It seems that we may, in some cases, have to do without in order to be thankful when we receive.  There is an old expression, “You never miss the water until the well runs dry.  There is a lot of truth in that!

What can we do to help our children be truly thankful?  In columns past, I have advocated playing games with the children by doing without certain things.  Such things as flipping the switch on the electric box for a half day, or going without a meal or two are suggestions I have made.  In addition, I would like to recommend that children learn more about history and how pilgrims and others suffered in the early times of our country.  Now, while we are so concerned about a virus, it would do us all good to remember that when our country was settled, there were no vaccines for smallpox, diphtheria, polio, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, whooping cough, tetanus, etc.  All food had to be grown or found in the forest.  Many pilgrims starved or died from disease.  

Another way to teach thankfulness is to have children earn some of their belongings.  We all appreciate more the things we are invested in.  Some parents give teens an allowance and require them to budget and plan for their own wardrobe.  It is surprising how unimportant some of the name brands become when they find they can buy something similar for much less money.  We did this with our children when they were teens.  At the time Izod was very popular.  Our daughter was so proud when she came home from the mall with three tops for what she would have paid for one Izod shirt.  

Children need to be taught at an early age to say “Thank you” whether they really mean it or not to get them thinking about what it means to be thankful.  As we can, however, we need to help them to be truly thankful for the things they have.  This should be more than just the material things mentioned, but also the love of family and God.  

It is not enough to simply tell children to be thankful.  Parents need to be creative in finding ways to help them be truly thankful for the love they have, the country they live in, and the God who watches over them and provides for them.  Without God, we would have nothing!

A Meaningful Thanksgiving for Children

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

A Meaningful Thanksgiving for Children

Children sometimes get criticism they may not deserve.  Many will say that children simply don’t appreciate what they have.  Perhaps that is not their fault.  Many have not seen examples of thankfulness and have not been encouraged to be thankful.

How can we help children be thankful?  First of all, we need to set the example for them.  Knowing some of the history involved in the beginning of the holiday can also be helpful.  Here is the proclamation of George Washington for Thanksgiving.  It would be good for children who are able to copy this in their own handwriting.

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

It would be well to remind children of the many things people of that time did not have that we have today, yet they were thankful.  They had no vaccines for smallpox, diphtheria, polio, scarlet fever, and tuberculosis yet they were thankful.  They had no computers, plastic, nylon, schools or textbooks such as we have yet they were thankful.

Later, Abraham Lincoln made a similar proclamation that can be found on the Internet.  Let’s make sure our children know the background of giving thanks to God by our nation.

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Note:  Tuesday, November 24, I will be telling the story of Squanto for the morning devotional from First Baptist Church in Kimberling City.  You can go to You Tube and type in Pat Lamb devotional and get it.  It will be at 9:00 A.M. but will remain available to view later.  Squanto was only 14 years old when he was captured and taken to Europe.  A very good story for children.

What are Children Thinking?

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a Child…

A Child’s View of Happenings

“Experts” who study such things say that we are all a combination of heredity and environment.  We each inherit tendencies that influence our likes and dislikes.  Then, as we grow, the things that happen, or do not happen, around us influence what we become according to the choices we make in dealing with them.

Right now, few people would deny that we have a division in our country.  Children pick up on comments and actions that are influencing them.  They listen to parents and others as they comment on news events.  Our recent election provided many comments and actions that are very confusing to children.  

We tell our children to be kind to everyone, yet they are not seeing kindness as store windows are broken.  We tell our children not to steal, yet they see people on TV looting stores.  We tell our children to talk nicely, yet they see people screaming at each other as they argue about what they think needs to be done in our country.  What kind of adults will our children become as a result of what they are experiencing?

For many years, teachers and parents were told to praise children and tell them how special they are.  Children have been passed from grade to grade in school without being held accountable for mastering the material of each grade.  Children have been given trophies when they were not earned.  Why are we surprised that we have a generation of adults now who think they don’t have to earn what they get?  We have a generation that feels they are special no matter how they behave. Didn’t we actually teach them that they are special and entitled when we misused praise and gave them things they had not earned?

As this generation of children sees others acting as they do, how will they process this in their own minds?  Will they become another “me” generation?  Isn’t it up to parents to see that this does not happen.  How can parents overcome what children are now witnessing to teach them to respect others?  It starts, first of all, by example.  Demonstration is one of the best teaching methods.  

What a challenge for those who work with children!  Since children quickly form opinions, s/he may have already formed many undesirable opinions.  This means there is much “undoing” to do as we try to teach the correct responses to what they are seeing and hearing.  It will take much prayer and help from our Lord, and yet, many parents refuse to take their children to church so they can learn or have Bible reading times at home.  Only the Bible has the answers we need.  It has proved itself through the centuries.  

Teaching Children to be Thankful

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Teach Children to be Thankful

         Now that Thanksgiving season is here, thoughts turn to the question of how we can help children be truly thankful.  Children are often criticized for being ungrateful for what they have, yet many have not been taught to be appreciative of the many blessings that have come their way.  There are many things that come to them due to no effort on their part and they need to learn to be particularly thankful for such things. 

         It is not easy to teach any concept or internal feeling.  It is much easier to teach a child to read or do a math problem than it is to teach a child to have an internal feeling.  There are some things to keep in mind as we make an effort to help children learn to be thankful and to show that they are thankful.  One way to help a child learn to be appreciative is to always require that child to say thank you when something good comes along.  There are a few things we can do to instill an understanding of what it is like to do without some things children may take for granted.  In addition, as is in the case of teaching many things to children, example of behavior to pattern is a great teaching tool.

         Children need to be taught from an early age to say thank you.  Even toddlers can try to mimic the words if they hear them often enough.  When a toddler hands an object to a parent, the parent should respond by saying thank you.  Toddlers can be heard to make the sound of two syllables even though the words are not truly audible.  They are catching on to the habit of this nicety.  As the child grows older, he/she needs to be constantly required to say the two words whether they are truly meant or not.  This imbeds in the child a feeling of “I owe something to another for what they are doing”.  Children need to write thank you notes when they are able to do so.

         It has been said that “We never miss the water until the well runs dry”.  This seems to be true of all of us.  It is difficult for a child to be thankful when that child has always had something and knows no other way.  Placing a blindfold over a child’s eyes for a few minutes can help the child realize what it might be like to lose eyesight.  Earplugs in ears for a few minutes can have a similar affect in helping a child appreciate hearing.  Having a child use a walker, crutches, or cane causes a child to think what it might be like to be unable to get around as easily as usual.  These things can be done as a game.  Wise parents will point out that many people go through life challenged with inability to see or hear clearly or to get around easily.

During a storm when the electricity goes off, children can experience what it would be like to live without electricity.  Again, parents can step in and point out the fact that electricity has not always been available and how thankful we should be that we now have it.  

         If all adults patterned expressions of thankfulness, it would not be so difficult for children to learn this concept.  Too often we neglect being thankful to others and to our heavenly Father for the many blessings we have.  How sad it is that our Thanksgiving holiday seems to be getting “squeezed out” of our culture when it is one of the most important holidays of all.  We are commanded in the Bible to give thanks to God.  We have a choice to make as to whether we will obey that command and teach our children to do likewise.  Our world would be a much better place if we chose to constantly give thanks.