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Teaching Our Kids the Things That Are Most Important
A survey by the University of Michigan (reported in USA Today) studied traits that mothers think are important to instill in their children. These values were contrasted from 1924 to recent times. Here are the results:1924 — Independence (24%); Tolerance (6%); Loyalty to church (50%); Strict obedience (45%)
Today — Independence (75%); Tolerance (47%); Loyalty to church (22%); Strict obedience (17%)
The results of this survey, while not terribly surprising, are still quite disturbing. In 1924 children were taught to respect authority — that's what 'loyalty to church ' and 'strict obedience' are all about. Today's parents have decided that independence ('do your own thing') and tolerance ('never criticize anyone else') are by far the most important things. Any wonder then that crime rates are soaring; drug and alcohol abuse are at all-time highs; moral values are nearly non-existent?
God's Word commands us to train our children in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4), and to show our love for them by supplying appropriate discipline (Proverbs 13:24). Common sense, our own experiences, and even the statistics show us that God's way is the right way. Think!
