A Month in the Life

One of my students has lost his Bible (at home of all places). So today, I made the comment that he probably wasn't doing his daily Bible reading at home. He had a guilty face, but I also noticed that there were a lot of other faces in the class going, "We should be doing that?" So I asked the kids how many of them read their Bible each day at home and was shocked when only 4 out of the 13 said they did (only 2 out of my 6 UPC kids raised their hand). This brought about a big discussion of why we need to read our Bible outside of school and why it is important for the family to spend time studying the Bible together. Only 1 of my kids has daily devotions with their parent; 2 others said they get together usually once a week. He and his mom read their Bibles together every night and discuss it. I was in shock. I guess I just assumed that more people did this. I know my family didn't do them when I was growing up, but my parents weren't godly examples at the time either.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising considering that some would take the approach that I'm sending my kid to a Christian school so they should study the Bible while they are there. I wonder though how much of a difference it would make if those kids saw their parents reading their Bibles. I've always been intrigued by the people whose Bibles are well worn from use, have all kinds of markings in them...it shows me that they've built a relationship with their Creator. I've always been jealous of families that did have devotions together or of kids who could discuss spiritual things with their parents. I can only remember one time growing up that my mom got us together to pray and it was when my parents were talking about getting a divorce. I, being the smart aleck teenager that I was, replied, "Isn't it a little too late to pray now?" Of course, I knew it wasn't, but I still got up and walked out of the room. Because I kept all my thoughts inside in those days, I still have a hard time opening up when it comes to telling someone what I'm thinking in relation to God or His Word. It's strange how that little thing really impacted me.

All this to say, we should not be depending on a school, Sunday School, youth pastor, or the church to teach our kids the Truth. Those avenues should be supplementing what they are already learning at home.

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