Memories aren't always a thing of the past!
In the Presbyterian church, when parents bring their child for baptism, they promise to "live the Christian faith, and to teach that faith to their child." This involves more than bringing a child to Sunday school; nurture and guidance in Christian faith should happen in the home, as well.
Easy to say — it's a little harder to know how to do that.
Recently, I ran across an article1 in which the author suggests one way for parents to nurture a young child's faith is with memorization. He has also written a "Small Child's Catechism2", 50 simple and short questions that begin with "Who made you?" and touch on some of the most essentials points of faith. Adults would do well to learn them, too! Far from being "too much" for little ones, consider this from our Book of Order, section W-2.3008b:
The Baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God's love claims people before they are able to respond in faith.
God's love for and claim upon us does not depend on our ability to fully understand what that means. What a comforting thought! What better time to plant the seeds of belief than in childhood?
Rather than being dry and boring or an oppressive chore forced upon them, memorizing can be a low-key, non-threatening activity. It can be done together at the dinner table, part of the going-to-bed routine, and treated as a game as parents and children memorize together. Older children who might otherwise consider the task as childish could take a turn leading the family in this.
It is not necessary to explain the questions and answers (unless, of course, they ask). Just learn them. The truths they contain will speak to the child's heart, mind and soul — planting memories for the future.
1 http://www.credenda.org/issues/10-1wholecounsel.php
One Response to “Memories”
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I would also recommend the following book:
Title - Training Hearts Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the
Shorter Catechism
Author - Starr Meade
Publisher - Presbyterian & Reformed (P&R) Publishing Company
ISBN - 0-87552-392-7
There is an excellent forward explaining the purpose and process of the book to parents, and then follows the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Each question is intended to be worked on for one week, with 6 (Mon-Sat) short devotionals to go along with it to explain the question. You work on strict memorization of the questions and answers, all the while learning what they really mean–1 per week.
My kids love it and we all learn how to properly express out faith from it.
Jim