Two men were taking their small children for a stroll through the park on a beautiful evening. The two families met and stopped for a bit of small talk and enjoyable conversation. One of the men was a constant complainer who rarely ever saw anything to smile about, and the other was a loving, Christian man who was always friendly, kind and always smiling. While the children of the two men were playing and having a happy time together, a tall, red haired man walked by. Immediately the children of the complaining man began to make rude and unkind remarks about the stranger. The kind man told the complainer that he should speak to his children about being nice, kind and considerate of others, especially those who were strangers. The complainer retorted that all the children had acted in the same way. The kind man called all of the children together, and asked each of them what they thought of the redheaded stranger who had just walked by. The complainer’s children called him a redheaded bum, the stupidest man they ever saw, and that he looked very lazy with his hazel colored eyes. The Christian man’s children stated that the stranger had smiled kindly at them, and they thought that his red hair looked like a warm open fire. They said that his eyes sparkled like ‘ole Saint Nick, and they reflected again upon his smile, which they said reminded them of their Mother’s sweet smile.
What made the difference? First, last and always, the difference is in one’s attitude toward that which his senses recognize. If you fill a child’s life with hate, distrust and discourteous acts, you can expect to reap the exact same thing! Constant criticism, incessant arguing and useless talk will spill over into his life, and his habits will soon be set in that direction. There’s an old adage that “As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.” The result is inevitable! A ‘chimney sweeper’ may begin the day in a crisp white uniform, but it does not take long for the soot to make its mark upon him. If the child sees consistent bickering and endless criticism of others, you can expect him to emulate this attitude in life. Burden him with constant insecurity and he will grow up to worry about everything. If one is taught to look upon everything with skepticism, it will be hard to get him to look sensibly and lovingly upon the Lord’s Holy Word. It will just be another adversary to talk ‘down’ and discard.
One can take any normal child and train him in a loving atmosphere, where God is supreme, the parents are loving and kind, and where the rights and feelings of others are thought to be important, and you will have a fertile field where the seeds of kindness, love and friendship will sprout and grow. A loving God, Who taught the principle of ‘reaping what we sow,’ has already established the fact that our seeds of goodness will bring forth other fruits of kindness. It never fails! Brambles do not produce grapes, and grapes will never produce brambles! Everything brings forth after its own kind.
So, what should one do? “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Anything else? “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” (Deuteronomy 6:7). This will provide you and your children a good attitude! This will bless you, your children and all who are blessed to know and associate with you.
