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The importance of a child

Muriel Larson

How important is one child? Each child is a unique person, a person whose future will be affected for better or worse by the influences that mould his or her life during the early years. One child will grow up to become a joy to God and parents and a blessing to others. Another will grow up and become a menace to society. Many others will live out their lives in fairly good ways, but will not know the Lord. What would you like your child’s life to be?

Melissa, a friend of mine, was badly abused as a child by an ardently religious mother who taught Sunday school, spouted Scripture – and had an ungovernable temper. Although I consider Melissa a beautiful, caring person, she has suffered numerous emotional problems through the years because of the way her mother treated her when in a rage. Fortunately, Melissa came to know the Lord as a child, and His presence in her life has kept her from becoming a bitter, hostile person.

One day Jesus took a young child on His knee and said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me” (Matthew 18:5). This reveals the high value God sets on one child. Can we value less any one of the precious young ones entrusted to our care?

How can we best fulfill our obligation to our children? The truth is that children learn more from our example than from what we say. Is our home a place where God is honoured? Do we teach by example the principles of love, purity, virtue, honesty, self-control and faith in God? Do we remember to thank God for the food He provides and ask His blessing on it? Do we teach our children to be thankful to God for all things?

Parents are laying the foundation for their child’s lives, and the strongest foundation we can give our children is a steadfast faith in the Lord. Each child entrusted to us by God presents an important responsibility, challenge and opportunity. A mouldable, impressionable individual awaits our every imprint – his or her future is in our hands.

Muriel Larson is a freelance writer from Greenville, S.C.

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Last modified June 29, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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