In Depth Devotions for Christians

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it 

Okay time to sit down at the Coffee table. It’s a sunday morning and I’ve been reflecting a bit on my youth, and comparing it to the youth of today. 

Let me start by saying I am not a parent nor am I old enough to be grandparent though I do tend to have an older person’s prospective on some things. I believe that comes from being raised with my grandparents and to be honest it’s part of what’s kept me grounded in Christ Jesus and I’m not ashamed of that. 

Let me continue and possible ver off topic (I’ll do this a lot from time to time I have an ADD/ADHD mind) I recently had a conversation with someone and took some constructive criticism inasmuch as was said the part that stuck out to me was I was called a granny. I’m 31 far from being a grandmom (note above no kids) BUT I see what this person was trying to tell me. Lighten up. Let me remind my readers I was raised by two older people for a GOOD portion of my life though this is no excuse for being so “old” in spirit and behavior it is a reason I am like I am. (Also I was an only child so not a lot of kid interaction save at school and church another story for another time). I used a verse to open this talk Proverbs 22:6. I stand by that verse. I was raised up (like an old soul if you will) but an understanding one. I may sush you when you get to loud but that’s because I and I’m sure others want to hear what’s being said by a speaker who I might add put a lot of time and effort and research into what they are talking/preaching about. And let me also add even if it’s not being teached at a child’s level they should still be listening; many sermons of my youth have echoed back in my adulthood and helped tremendously as I grow as a christian. 

Raising up a child isn’t just the parent’s responsibility especially in the church. We stand as a congregation (or family in Christ) and promise to help the child along in their christian upbringing at their dedication/baptism/christening. That doesn’t mean raising them as their parents but as mentors and most of the ones I’ve had over the years have corrected me some “harsher” than others but all with my betterment in mind. 

Train up a child (or raise up). Training is all about teaching and manners comes with those lessons. I think the church has forgotten that when it come to the kids (Ooopps I went theere not sorry) No the old addage a child should be seen and not heard does not apply wholely. Let’s face it in today’s society that’s NEVER going to happen and that’s not a bad thing! We learn so much from kids ESPECIALLY in the church (SAY WHAT NOW!?) Let’s remember JEsus himself said this in not so much the same way. Mark 10:13-16

13One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them…

Jesus told us to bring the children unto him to love them. 

Here’s a question have you ever sat and listened to a child talk (about anything) they tend to have eyes we don’t and catch things we don’t even little things we don’t even realize are being “put out there”. I remember listening to one of our church kids talk about a lesson they learned in Sunday school how they lite up talking about everything their teacher told them. It was all “new” to them. They were “seeing” it for the first time and the best part it was about Jesus. I kid you not my heart melted as this little kid though (and I say this lovingly because I love this little girl to death) she can be annoying and she says some of the darnedest things (I’ve sat and either been completely floored or had to walk away and chuckle where she couldn’t see me) but she was learning and it was staying with her! She maybe young yet but that doesn’t matter what matters is we can see she’s getting it right. Or rather we are one or the other.

Now i don’t know about you and this is my final point for this today but the VAIN of my Sunday church going is teenagers. Now I’ve come a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG way from where I was on this but our youth are glued to their phones they have them out during service messaging one another and not PAYING ATTENTION to the pastor or speakers lesson. This is where we as adults (especially for the kids that come in as an outreach to the community WITHOUT their parents) we need to come beside them during service and sit and talk with them to see how they got the message and if they understood it and what they didn’t (We both Adult and child have a learning opportunity here) understand and if we don’t know LOOK IT UP TOGETHER! Wow PAM BOOM look win/win the teen is learning and so are we and we’re showing them we aren’t scary adults that don’t understand BUT we are trying to learn and grow together. Mentor a youth and it will keep you young. We need to not be in such a big hurry and spend time with our young people mix it up and listen to them. It’s not because we are big bad adults and know EVERYTHING… FAR FROM IT…. but because kids see it differently and touching again on the other passage Jesus knew this and that is why he told the disciple to bring him the kids because we too as adults can learn from them as much as they can learn from us. IE adulds PUT AWAY YOUR PHONES. 

Notebooks for notes Bible for reading in church and an ear to hear it from a child’s heart.

Sorry for the rambling on…. And the not so much staying completely on topic… Please drop your comments below and let’s talk.