Impart Unto Your Children

Children are like sponges.  They absorb everything—everything we say, everything we do, they even absorb our intentions…they are very keen to observe our tones and facial expressions, and based upon their perceptions, they begin to formulate patterns—patterns of behavior, attitudes, actions and reactions…  Why?  It seems to be programed into their little framework, into their little systems, that they are to imitate that which is modeled for them.   

You have probably heard a child say something, and a parent say, “Now where did he learn that?”  Our kids are constantly absorbing, and we may not be the only influence in their life from which they are absorbing.  We are, however, most definitely commissioned in the Word to monitor, help filter, and guide their in-take and out-take.   

Take a look at this:  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on 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.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9   God had given Israel, through Moses, commandments, truths and words of life to live by, and the Israelites were to impart these to their children.  And even today, we are to do the same. 

We are accountable for that which children absorb from us—be it good or be it bad.  Let us be diligent in this matter, and let us do as the Israelites were commanded to do in Deuteronomy and impress God’s Word upon our children and live out His commands so that they may learn to be imitators of that which is good and right according to God’s Word. 

–Katie Botello