Baseball Season is coming to a close and I give my husband kudos and kisses for teaching the fundamentals of the sport to our boys, although they’ve had their share of striking out when up to bat. I remember one particular game when my youngest struck out and cried. My husband immediately went to the dugout and told him crying wasn’t acceptable. I didn’t hear his exact words, yet I can imagine what his male ego persuaded him to say to our already wounded nine-year old. Daddy didn’t know Mama was in the stands holding back tears also. It’s difficult for a parent to watch a child attempt any endeavor and strike out. It’s even more difficult when you know you’ve taught your child the game of life and they refuse to grasp your teachings. Teaching our children properly and preparing them for the game of life will allow us to relax when they’re up to bat - regardless of the mission. We can have confidence knowing we’ve taught them well - once they’re in the batting box is not the time to begin teaching, yet encouragement goes a long way!
God has given parents precise instruction on teaching children. Each time we correct, discipline, or train our child is an opportunity to pour God’s Word into them. We teach them to tie their shoes, dress, cook, clean, play sports, and especially academics…is not knowing the Word of God most important in the game of life? Our children will have many strikeouts in life, yet if we’ve done our part, the strikeouts aren’t as wounding and also become a teaching/learning opportunity.
Deuteronomy 11:19 (NKJV)
You shall teach them (commandments) to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
