PREAMBLE

PREAMBLE

“Teach a child in the way he should go;

And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

These words taken from Proverb 22:6 speak loudly of the responsibility of parents and caregivers to the children entrusted to them. In these modern days with the advent of such a large and diverse selection of electronic gadgets, our children are bombarded with so many distractions from every direction that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with their spiritual development.

We as adults, often overwhelmed by the demands for survival, are guilty of neglecting our responsibilities of ensuring our children’s growth. We are losing sight of the fact that at this stage children are at their most receptive phase for absorbing information and unless we make an effort to help them, they are likely to acquire wrong information from other sources.

I believe no one is better equipped or better placed to do the job than the parent or the caregiver. By making use of every opportunity to teach the words of Jesus Christ, to read the Holy Bible as well as by setting personal examples we can build our children’s faith and offer them alternative examples to live by. In this way we can prepare them to deal with the many and varied temptations they will face in life as they go forward.

These stories under the banner “The Old Lady and Ana” grew out of a discussion I had with my cousin Starr Sabga during which we lamented that our children are not being exposed to reading and discussing the bible as we were. We both felt that as a result of this we are missing a very important opportunity to expose them to God’s words and running the risk of losing them.

The stories are strictly my interpretation of selected passages from the Bible based on my Christian education and on my own life experience. They are meant for the younger child, as examples of how we may use day to day experiences to learn about God’s word. They are by no means exhaustive but I trust they may serve to get other parents and caregivers to do the same.

If this happens, then I would consider myself fully rewarded.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

9. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 180:1-6 (The Good and the Wicked)

Ana listened intently as her father related the story of the taxi driver who had found a briefcase full of money and rather than keep it, he chose to return it to the owner. His friends and co-workers mocked him and tried to encourage him the keep the money, but he refused to do so because he felt it was wrong and was against God’s teaching.
When her father was finished, Ana turned to her Grandmother and asked her:
“Gramma is that really true? Did God really teach that we should always be honest and
never cheat anyone?”

The old lady, sensing an opportunity to teach a very important lesson to her grand-daughter replied;
“Oh yes Ana, the Bible, God’s written words, has many examples of people who chose
honesty over dishonesty and who pleased God for doing so. One of the best examples
is contained in Psalm 180:1-6”.

Opening her bible, she began to read:



Blessed is the man who does not walk


in the counsel of the wicked


or stand in the way of sinners


or sit in the seat of mockers.
“God makes it very clear that the man who does not mix with the wicked person, or is not associated with the sinner or does not share with those who mock and redicule others is a man who has his blessings. He went on further to describe this man”:




But his delight is in the law of the Lord,


and on his law he meditates day and night.


“This man is happy to live under God’s law and studies it day and night to make sure that he understands everything. This means that he does not have to be forced to do so, but considers it a pleasure”.
Ana, listening intently, asked her grandmother:


“Gramma, how do you get to know this kind of man from all the other bad ones?

The old lady nodded appropriately and continued to read:


He is like a tree planted by streams of water,


which yields its fruit in season


and whose leaf does not wither.


Whatever he does prospers.


“God described that man as one who stands out like a fruit tree that grows with plenty water. It is laden with fruit and its leaves are abundant, healthy and not withering. You will know this man because whatever he touches will prosper”.

Ana added quickly, to underline that she understood:


“Like Uncle Peter, who you always say whatever he touches turns to gold.”

The old lady nodded affirmatively, and continued to read:


Not so the wicked!


They are like chaff that the wind blows away.


“God did not hold back in describing the wicked as chaff, which is like straw, that is easily blown away by the wind. They have no substance and therefore no respect.”


The old lady then lifted her head to make sure that Ana was listening and that she understood,


then continued:




Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,


nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.


For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,


but the way of the wicked will perish.


“God was absolutely clear that the wicked will never be allowed to stand in judgement, nor will he be allowed to be among the good people. He promised to take care and protect the honest and good people, while the evil and the wicked will perish.”

Relieved, Ana got up, kissed her grandmother and as she walked away, shouted confidently:




“Don’t worry gramma, I am going to please God and be good all my life!”
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