Show Children The Way

The mall wasn’t that crowded this particular Saturday. Aaron had no problem getting his favorite carousel animal—the zebra. Samuel helped him into the saddle as he had done many times before. The attendant pushed the pedal, the music began, and as the creatures moved up and down and around, my mind traveled back in time. While children’s smiles passed before me, I thought of Aaron’s first ride. Was it on his favorite striped beast even then? Six months old—another world, another time. With every wave to my son, I recalled waving at other times, other stages, other ages. Time is fleeting! Children do grow up so fast. We cannot miss these precious early years to show our children the Way:

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you . . . so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God . . . 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 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.~Deuteronomy 5: 32, 33a; 6: 2a, 5-7~

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these . . .” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.~Mark 10: 14b, 16~

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