The Heart of a Child
Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven."
Children are what they are. Like pieces of clay they are malleable at a young age. Some children are more easily taught and trained, but even the hardest of them can be worked with in the formative years.
As the saying goes, humble yourself, or life will do it for you. That is more often true than not. I know of people that keep doing the same dumb thing, getting the same dumb response, but not ever learning.
Matthew 18:3 "and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: 6) But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea."
Good children are fun. Bad children are rotten. What makes the difference? Usually the teacher, the one who molds the children—and the heart of the child.
It is a sad fact of life that people can be touched by sin, even children that start out innocent. What we seek to pattern ourselves after is what we will be. Up above in Matthew 18 verse 6 is a grave warning.
The warning is for all. It can be a parent, or grandparents, family, or even strangers. Those who harm a child and causeth them to stumble will suffer consequences.
Mentoring a child is a serious task. I would often pray as a young parent that God would guide me, and please, that any mistakes I made (raising my children) wouldn't be horrible.
Even then, I know I didn't take serious enough consideration throughout the days as the children and I grew up. And children do grow up, much to our sorrow and joy, as we grow up and older.
I've heard it said that the reward of a parent is their grandchildren. My kids were somewhat my 'partners in crime', and on occasion so are my grandkids.
It is a fine line. I always try to stress with my grandchildren how important it is to honor their parents in all godly things. God should come first in their decisions, but honoring their parents is right up there.
I try to encourage them to never disobey. Years ago, I was visiting my grandfather on an occasion and he told my oldest children, 'You mind your ma.'
That made more of an impression on me than it did on the children. A grandparent 'spoils' the grandchildren at the peril of the children, when the adult doesn't reinforce the rules of the parents. (As long as those rules aren't harmful or bad.)
Colossians_3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.
21) Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged."
