Children
Jewish mother and children share the lighting of the Menorah.
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Please also see: ‘Resurrection’ --- ‘Good news & All Children,’ approximately one third way into the subject.
Home education should include knowledge of GOD, which helps to make children complete. It gives them a sense of purposeful existence, a point of reference and meaningful origin.
If all children, from the time they first begin to talk, are taught the principles of Christianity; and helped to develop and grow a relationship with the GOD of Love and Creation; the world would be a wonderfully different place.
Children should be referred to as children, which is the correct respectful, dignified word. ‘Kids’ is slang, un-polished, and disrespectful. GOD’s children will never be referred to as GOD’s kids.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.’
Psalm 78:5-7 ‘HE decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which HE commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in GOD and would not forget HIS deeds but would keep HIS commands.’
Psalm 127:3 ‘Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from HIM.’
Proverbs 13:24 ‘Whoever spares the rod (symbol of discipline) hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.’
Proverbs 17:6 ‘Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.’
Proverbs 22:6 ‘Train a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not turn from it.’
Proverbs 29:17 ‘Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.’
Matthew 18:1-6 ‘At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever w4lcomres one such child in My Name welcomes Me. If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in Me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 19:13-15 ‘Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” When He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.’
Mark 9:35-37 ‘Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom He placed among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My Name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the ONE WHO sent Me.”
Mark 9:42 Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in Me, to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”
Mark 10:13-16 ‘People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of GOD like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.’
Luke 18:15-17 ‘People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have Him touch them. When the disciples saw this they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of GOD like a little child will never enter it.”
1 Corinthians 13:11 ‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put childish ways behind me.’
2 Timothy 3:15-16 ‘From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is GOD-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. So that the person of GOD may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’
1 Timothy 4:12 &15 ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.’
Ephesians 6:1- 4 ‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother;” which is the first commandment with a promise; “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the Earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’
Children are a valuable asset, they are the next generation of workers, professional people, creative thinkers, leaders, and of families. Treat them as such, because the ways in which parents bring them up, show them responsibilities, give them principles, ethics, morals, be examples to them, and help teach them general knowledge; plus education and influence outside the home, all shape their future, and therefore the future of the world.
When children are educated, and their characters are molded in virtuous ways, including self-control, and temperance; such qualities will eventually influence society in a good way. If they are left unenlightened, uncontrolled, and unguided; and they become self-willed, intemperate, and without decent morals, principles, and standards; this will eventually influence, and degrade our future society, with those same poor qualities.
When you believe in your children and treat them with your expectancy that they will do well, they usually do so; they will try to live up to your expectations. Your faith in them creates the right environment. People generally rise or fall according to their level of education. Give them faith in GOD and themselves, and they are likely to excel in whatever they do.
If you constantly criticize children, you create negativity, self-doubt, and fear, which will remain with them throughout life.
Encourage children to develop their individual, unique talents and expertise. Don’t try to get them to pursue other things which do not appeal to them, but which you want to see fulfilled in them because you were never able to achieve it. They may start something but then decide it is not for them; and take a new direction. This is life. Encourage and help them to seek meaningful purpose.
Good news. How does GOD judge very young children and babies, including pre-birth babies right from their beginning at conception, but who have died from natural causes, and abortions.? All life is valuable to GOD, and as sin free humans they will be in heaven.
Please see the subject of: ‘Resurrection.’
A gentle suggestion for parents, which can be varied as desired; or simply rejected.
I have seen this ‘Children’s Agreement’ idea working well. It teaches children the meanings of discipline, obedience, rules, intentions, obligations, commitments, agreements, promises, and the concept of written agreements. It does not need to be intense, and distancing from relational parental love. It can all be lovingly explained as being a part of their learning.
Children’s agreement:
I express my genuine desire, and agreed intention to the following:
I want to be Pleasing to GOD.
I want my parents to be Pleased with me, and Proud of me.
I want to be Pleased with myself.
I want to be Wise.
I want to be Polite.
I want to be Patient.
I want to be Honest.
I want to be Helpful.
I want to be Obedient.
I want to be Generous.
I want to be Considerate.
I want to be Trustworthy.
I want to be a Friend to Others.
I want to be a Dignified Person.
I want to be Neat, Tidy, and Clean.
I want to be a Good Example to others.
I want to be a truly Worthwhile Person.
I want to be an Unselfish, Sharing Person.
I want all my thoughts, words, and actions to be pleasing to GOD, and wherever I go in this world, I want to leave it a better place for my having been there.
I realize that if I am late for meetings and appointments, I am actually stealing time from whoever I am meeting, which is really stealing some of their life. It is a type of theft, and I do not want others to do this to me.
I agree to exercise self-control, which is self-discipline, to live according to all my agreed points of quality and behaviour. I am filled with GOD’s Holy Spirit and therefore I agree to live in accordance (in keeping) with all the ingredients of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
I also understand that if I fail, or habitually fall short, there may be consequences, which might be some type of punishment such as a loss of privileges, or other things decided and imposed from time to time by my parents.
Children follow their parents’ example, which is set by how their parents live. Children follow what they see, far more so than what they are told. It is their natural inclination to do so, and in fact such responsive behaviour follows through life with all humanity.
Signed by Child: ___________________________________________________________
Witnessed and Accepted by Parent / s: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Date: ___________________________________