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.patlambchristianauthor.com)
Raising Children…
A Child’s Love Message
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:2,3 (NKJV)
It’s a big deal to be leader for the day in kindergarten! When it was Dylan’s turn, he surprised his teacher and asked her if he could have a little boy help him. He had noticed that this little boy never got to be leader. An adult lady was always with him to help him. The surprised teacher answered, “Why, yes, Dylan. That would be fine”.
Dylan took the little boy by the hand and together they took the lunch count to the office. They led the children to the playground at recess. They led the children back inside, hand in hand. Whatever needed to be done, they did together. At the end of the day, the teacher was not surprised to see them touch each other’s forehead, an action to show that they were friends. You see, this little boy was a “special ed” student who couldn’t talk like other children.
A mother shared with me that one day on a shopping trip, when she went to lift her little boy from the car seat at the mall, he said, “I luv’ you Mommy”. While inside the store, he pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it!
Why did these two examples happen? Could it be that they have experienced love at home as they have watched the example set by their parents? As in the second example, could it be that the child has experienced this same kind of love from his mom? It has been said that children learn what they live. If they live with love in the home, they will be more apt to show love to others.
When I taught kindergarten, I had a parent bring her child to school on the first day and say, “I won’t believe anything he says about you if you won’t believe anything he says about me!” It was meant as a joke, but truthfully, I found it very easy, in many cases, to tell what kind of home life the children had. Not only did they tell you things, but it was easy to see that they patterned their behavior from their home life. I have heard it said that, “Children learn what they live!” In many cases this is very true.
How, then, can we teach our children to love? Setting an example is probably the most important way. Bible study at home and church will give them examples of how Jesus demonstrated love. Conversation overheard by children should always show love and concern.
In the verse cited above, Jesus was teaching us to humble ourselves. If we pattern ourselves after Jesus, as the children so often pattern their behavior after us, we will set a good example for the children.
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