This week I read of some fabulous new technology for all those folks who want to give their children a head-start in their education and who also prefer to give birth to "calm" infants, ready to learn (New devices aim to help babies start learning before birth, Wichita Eagle, October 6, 2009). First, I have rarely seen a healthy infant who isn't born ready to learn; that's how God created us. Second, who deserves a "calm" infant! Babies are supposed to cry when they need and want something, and parents are supposed to respond appropriately so that over time, those babies learn to manage their needs independently (I think that's about the time when we send them off after they graduate from high school).
We seem to live in a time where our desire to "play God" is growing more apparent, and while our attempts to "be God" don't work, "playing God" with the development of our children scares me. Human beings are genuinely "fearfully and wonderfully made"; the human body is so magnificently complex that our tinkering with it, seemingly to enhance what God has already perfectly designed, is hubris of the most frightening kind.
Yet, we do have direction in how to influence the development of our children. Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to be "like Christ," to set the example for others, including our children, so they too will want to become followers of Christ. We are given a "best practice" through God's direction to the children of Israel to write His commandments on our own hearts and get them inside the hearts of our children; these are to be on-going "teachable moments" throughout every day, from sunup to sundown (Deuteronomy 6:7).
God made no mistakes when He designed the way we develop and learn - from conception to death. In fact, the reason we might be tempted to expose our unborn children to these new "teaching devices" is because from week 18 of their lives, they can hear mom's voice and activity going on inside and outside the womb. God made this possible for all kinds of reasons we and medical experts may or may not know, but we can be sure, there is divine purpose.
In John 10:27, Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." He follows this by saying that he gives his sheep eternal life, that they will never perish, and no one can snatch His sheep from Him (John 10:28-29).
If a shepherd starts to imprint the sound of his voice on sheep from the earliest possible moment so they will follow him, the implications for us as parents is evident. From the very beginning of the lives of our children, they should hear us praying; they should experience the sounds of what it means to be in God's presence and among His people. Once they are born, their learning curve zooms, and that's when we begin to tell them and show them every moment of every day who God is and how He loves them. Just as our Shepherd leaves His imprint upon us, we must develop a godly imprint upon our children so that when they are old enough to make their own decisions (or at least think they are old enough), they will listen to and obey that familiar voice (Proverbs 22:6).
Children do respond to their environments and to the voices of those around them before they are ever born. They are sponges, absorbing all kinds of experiences; they are "learning machines." If we want to give our children a real "edge" on life, let's plug them into Jesus earlier rather than later. Let's develop our own character so that we reflect Jesus to them, and let's imprint them with a desire to know Him from an early age. It's never too early to teach a child who Jesus is.
Lord, the way You have created us is truly amazing. Your intricate design is beyond our ability to comprehend and recreate. You are God, and we are not, and for that, I am ever grateful.
Thank you for giving us our children. Please place in our hearts an urgency to teach them who You are from a young age and lead them to a relationship with You.
Put in us an understanding of the critical role we play as parents, grandparents, and people in the lives of children in ensuring that they know You and that their "education" can't be left to "chance"; we must diligently lead them to You.
We ask for your wisdom and guidance as we grow in You and as we lead our children.
Thank You, Lord. Amen.
