And They Shall Teach Their Children…

One of the most moving scenes of sacred writ is the one wherein the Saviour said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven.” This, coupled with an earlier utterance, suggests the sweetness and cleanness with which children come here from the presence of the Father: “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And then He added a sentence that suggests the weight of responsibility that the presence of children imposes upon us, and which suggests also the gravity of the offense of destroying faith: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

In a well—known work of literature, Prince Myshkin had this sentence to say: “the soul is healed by being with children.” Healed, yes—and also searched. Perhaps we are never more open to searching scrutiny than when the eyes of a child are upon us. And so often we underestimate their understanding. As Emerson observed, “[Boys] know truth from counterfeit as quick as the chemist does. They detect weakness in your eye and behavior . . . before you open your mouth . . .” Don’t try to hide your heart from a child.

Children have a way of seeing inside. And our teaching must be more than talking. We must be careful what they feel from us, what they see inside us, besides the things we say. They come here clean and sweet and teachable, from the Father of us all, and we have an inescapable obligation to teach and train them early, and not to leave their teaching to chance: to teach them reverence and righteousness and respect, honor and obedience; to teach them faith, to teach them truth.

“And again, inasmuch as parents have children . . . that teach them not to understand . . . the sin be upon the heads of the parents.” “And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.” “I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth . . . ”

Such is the inescapable obligation imposed by the presence of children, and such is the gravity of the offense of destroying faith—in children, in youth, or, for that matter, in anyone at all.