Secure Their Hearts

      It’s almost time for the school year to start. If you’re sending your baby to school for the very first time, trust me, they’re coming home a different person. If you’re sending your baby off to college for the very first time, trust me, they’re coming home a different person. The world is going to influence your baby in ways you may not like, so now is the time to influence them at home as to self-discipline and the consequences of disobedience. In today’s world, children have to make tough decisions at an early age and most are not prepared to do so. You’re not being a busy-body wanting to know about your child’s friends, who their teacher is, what they’re involved in at school. If your child is hiding these things from you, it’s a warning sign the world has your child.
      Teacher: “Johnny, why are you doing your math problems on the floor?” Johnny: “You said we had to do our multiplication without using tables.” Teacher: “Glen, how do you spell crocodile?” Glen: “K-R-O-K-D-I-A-L” Teacher: “No, that’s wrong.” Glen: “Maybe it’s wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.” Teacher: “Maria, go to the map and find North America.” Maria: Pointing at the map, “Here it is.” Teacher: Correct …Now class, who discovered America?” Class: “Maria!” Teacher: “Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?” Donald: “HIJKLMNO” Teacher: “What? Where did you get that from?” Donald: “Yesterday you said it was H to O!”
      A 15-year-old boy submitted the following School Prayer for your consideration of adoption in this year’s curriculum. “Now I sit me down in school where praying is against the rule; For this great nation under God, finds mention of Him very odd. If scripture now the class recites, it violates the Bill of Rights; And any time my head I bow, becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange, or green, that’s no offence, it’s a freedom scene; The law is specific, the law is precise, prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall might offend someone with no faith at all; In silence alone we must meditate, God’s name is prohibited by the state. We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, and pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks; They’ve outlawed guns, but first the Bible, to quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen and the unwed daddy, our Senior King; It’s inappropriate to teach right from wrong, we’re taught that such judgments do not belong. We can get our condoms and birth controls, study witchcraft, vampires, and totem poles; But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, no word of God must reach this crowd. It’s scary here I must confess, when chaos reigns the school’s a mess; So, Lord, this silent plea I make, should I be shot, my soul please take. Amen”
      [Proverbs 22: 1-6, 15] The song, “How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?” by Isaac Watts is inspired by Psalm 119:9 “How shall the young secure their hearts, And guard their lives from sin? Thy Word the choicest rules imparts, To keep the conscience clean. ‘Tis like the sun, a heavenly light; That guides us all the day; And through the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way. Thy Word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth; And well supply our age.” I think all parents, including myself, wish they could do it all over again armed with the wisdom and experience we now have. What I can do, though, is help keep the church strong in the truth of God’s Word, and teach it to all who will listen.