1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

worship on Sundays, if they are to be truly
consistent and not hypocrites when they
grow up.
Literal gifts should not be so frequent
as to become commonplace, and the children
should be aided to understand that
gifts are not given from selfish motives,
such as bribery for good behavior, or expecting
something in return. Gift-giving
should be out of love and appreciation. It
follows that the gifts themselves should be
practical and sensible, and not just useless,
shiny baubles. Thus children begin to
learn about and appreciate the gifts of the
Creator, including the priceless one of life
itself.
Responsibility for themselves and their
actions is something that children should
be taught at an early stage. They need to
be trained to pick up and put away their
toys, clothing, and so forth, and to take
the just consequences of their treatment
of other people. And since it is work, not
play, that breeds responsibility, they should
be assigned jobs to do in and around the
home. Only when they have learned the
value of hard work can playtime be really
appreciated by them. It should be noted
that in countries where children seldom
have time for play they usually grow up
to be dependable and responsible adults.
Those, on the other hand, with too much
idle time, much of it on their own or in
company with other juveniles, get into
trouble and resent being asked to engage
in any useful occupation. The child who is
trained to be responsible will have more
self-respect and more respect for others
also.
If parents will encourage their children
to work for and earn the things they really
want, the youngsters will attach much
greater value to them. A boy whose heart
is set on getting a bicycle will appreciate
it all the more and give it the better care
if he has to save for it out of his own
10
funds. Contrariwise, something easily acquired
is also lightly esteemed. Wise parents
will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing
that they did not rob their child of the
pride he can feel in doing things for himself.
The most valuable training that parents
can give their young ones is to afford them
the right example in relationship to God
-especially in the matter of prayer. Parents
cannot pass this responsibility on to
others. They must shoulder it themselves.
And for this training to be truly effective,
prayer must be a united, daily, family occurrence.
Children who observe their parents
humbly approaching God for mercy
and guidance will be encouraged to duplicate
their course with happy results.
Prayerful children are not likely to be
problem children.
Discipline with Love
Often admonition and reason will not
suffice for children. Sometimes only physical
punishment will adequately impress a
lesson. In all fairness to the child he should
know what to expect for disobedience.
Children of inconsistent parents are kept
wondering whether the parents really
mean what they say. If from experience
the child learns that his parents mean exactly
what they say, then he will the more
quickly obey and respect parental wishes.
Parents, of course, do not have to go to
the other extreme of having rules like the
laws of the Medes and Persians, which
never, changed. For best results they
should operate in accord with the just
principles set out in the Bible.
Punishment, whether physical or otherwise,
must always be just, commensurate
with the wrong committed. It will tend to
be unduly severe if administered while
under the undue influence of anger. The
child should clearly understand why there
is punishment. Parents must be united in
AWAKE!