If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard that I sound just like my sister,that we look so much like our mother or that I have my dad’s feet I would be one very rich woman! We are born into a family carrying traits and characteristics of the people in that family. You won’t find a Asian child born to two black parents or a white child born to two Asian parents! We resemble our parents and siblings and often even distant relatives in a peculiar yet comfortingly familiar way. We inherit both good and bad characteristics.

I read a very thought provoking book by Pastor Paul Scanlon called I Am Not My Father. In this book he writes about how his father was a distant and harsh member of his family . He always believed that he would be too because he was his fathers son . His journey to avoiding the traits that he could have inherited is moving and powerful.

I am a proud mom of two daughters and without any intervention or interference from anywhere my girls will inherit certain ways and characteristics from both me and their father . Alexia has her dad’s eyes and determination to succeed . She also has my sense of humour.. Juliana has her dad’s  logic and his muscular legs (lucky girl!)….  She also inherited my ability to read people and situations  . These cannot change and no amount of praying will make any difference !

I remember when my girls were little they used to mimic me putting on make-up and walking in heels ( in the days when I still could! ) . When Juliana was born,Alexia often went off without saying a word and changed her sisters diaper just because she had watched me do it so many times. The funny thing was she did it really well! My husband tried a few times but the child almost slipped out of his grip with all the vaseline  that he plastered all over her !

How we deal with anger and frustration , language we use, judgements we make about people , how we treat people both in our social and economic circles and outside of them… all of these things are seen and unconciously mimicked by our children. Think about the example of racism. How many racist people do you know of who came from completedly non racist parents?

What then are we teaching our children about God? What did we learn from our parents about God? Are we happy with what we are passing on ? We as parents play a massive role in our children’s spiritual inheritance. I will not leave Alexia and Juliana’s physical health to chance by feeding them Mc D every day or let them go off in summer clothes when its -5deg outside. I make sure that physically they have the best chance at living healthy lives. I also wouldn’t put them on a railway track and hope they don’t get hit by a train!

Why then would I take a chance with their spiritual health? I often hear parents saying they will allow their kids to choose their religion when they are older and won’t try to influence them while they are young. This is not interfering but rather irresponsibility . I want my kids to grow up knowing they have a human father who loves them to the moon and back. I also want them to know they have a Father God who loves them even more! If we know that then our kids will know it too. There is no question that our children learn most things from us parents.They also form opinions and ideals based on what they learn at home. I often hear my mother coming out of my mouth…and I often hear me coming out of Juliana’s mouth. Sometimes that is flattering. Sometimes not…

Alexia said to me recently that she doesn’t know how people survive without relying on God for everything, knowing His hand is on them,His protection and guidance are theirs and that He is just a prayer away at all times. This didn’t happen by chance. This was because we took the time to nurture her and show her how to live life with Him in the driver’s seat.  She learnt about worship, prayer and honoring God all through her childhood , as did her sister. They both see our faith  in action every day . My daughters  are living what they learnt,just as they learnt to walk,talk and feed themselves.

Imagine putting a bowl and a spoon in front of a 1 year old and saying ,”the cereal is in the cupboard ,off you go. Oh and Bon appetite!”.

Imagine handing over your car keys to your child and telling them to drive to school without a license or any driving lessons and just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best !

Moms and Dads- take the time to teach your children that God loves them. Teach them to follow you as you follow Him. Don’t hope for the best- lead them in the best way. You didn’t leave them to learn any other vital life skills on their own while cheering from the grandstands.

As Alexia says..”SELAH”. Pause and think on these things.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,they will not leave it.
Proverbs 22