I am currently reading For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. It is such a fascinating and thought-provoking book on how educating a child looks and should be. I really encourage anyone who has influence over a child at any stage to read it. It truly makes you rethink the way we view children.
I just have to share this beautiful quote I found this afternoon.
***
"The Christian view of the child does not allow him to be conditioned as a dog may be conditioned to repond to a bell. We must have due respect for the sacredness of his separate personality. Therefore, we treat him with dignity, allowing for his weakness and need of support at any given stage."
***
And one more quote:
***
"We, each one, whatever our age, intelligence, or sex, have the responsibility of acting within the definite framework given in God's Word. Since Jesus Christ's early work, nobody is to act as a priest for anybody. And the Holy Spirit is the One who works deeply into our personal lives. We must never presume to usurp His work. It is dangerous to think that we are entitled to do so because we are parents, family, teachers, church workers, or adults. "
***
All too often we hear of child training methods that are touted as Christian which are based on "behaviouristic" methods and involve setting up a child to fail and then punishing them for failing. Too too sad. Children are mini-people that have less life experience than we as adults and should be treated with respect and love.
***
P.S. Tomorrow is D-day but I truly doubt Baby H will be making his/her debut appearance so don't hold your breath and DON'T say anything smart like, "You still here?" "How are you GOING?" "What? No baby yet?" or the ever clever and all knowing, "It'll be late." My hormones might get the better of me and I might say something snarky like, "Yes, don't you like having me here?" or "I'm actually in pain and think I'm about to deliver could you be midwife?" or "No we're waiting on the birth of a hamster didn't you know that?" "Late? Oh no does that mean it'll miss all it's birthday parties? Oh dear how terrible!"
