My son came and took me upstairs recently to show me a beautiful painting. God had placed this painting right outside his window. It was a gorgeous rainbow. As we looked at the rainbow, we both noticed a cloud next to it that was shaped like a cross. We stared at it for a moment, and then I ran downstairs to get the camera. By the time I got back, the cross had faded. We were a little disappointed, but it was a great experience we were able to share together.
Later that week as I was helping out at the library of my daughter’s school, and I was reminded of the rainbow. It is a Christian school so many of the books they read are Bible stories. A little girl was taking a computer test on a story about Noah’s Ark. As I began to help her read the questions, I became vividly aware that she had never heard the story before.
I tried to help a little by recalling some of the facts, without giving her the answers. To my amazement, she did not know a single thing about the book she was supposed to have read at home. A great sense of sorrow came over me as I realized that she had never heard this very familiar story. She did not even know what God had placed in the sky as a promise to us.
It made me think about how many other children have yet to hear this story. As I mentioned, this child attends a Christian school and had not heard. Instead of judging her parents or the school, I started to think of myself. What am I teaching my children? Do they know all the marvelous wonders that God has done throughout the Bible and in my life? Am I using every opportunity to teach them God’s word and how to apply it in their daily lives?
If I am honest, I fall very short. I sometimes assume that their school or most often church will fill in the gaps. God reminds me that the responsibility is mine and my husband’s – the parents. I hope this is a lesson that I won’t soon forget. Children are beautiful gifts, and I don’t want to waste those gifts by not opening them up to our wonderful Lord.
Memory Verse:
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
-Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Lord, please forgive me for not teaching my children all I should of Your mighty wonders and Your amazing grace. Help me remember to use every opportunity that I can to read them Your precious and life-giving Word. I can begin teaching them today as we…”
Contributing Writer:
Susie Mozisek
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