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The innocent faith of a child touches
upon the simple essence of God
There is a beautiful lesson in childhood itself -- above
all, that a child is purely innocent, and that such innocence
is the foundation of life. If we were born as adults, already
prepared for the struggles of life, we would never experience
the magic of childhood, the license to explore life with our
eyes wide open. Childhood gives us the chance to soar through
the sublime before we trudge through the quotidian.
So when you next spend time with your child -- or any child
-- do not take the experience lightly. Look at the child intently
and realize: God has given you this gift to nurture and care
for, to teach good habits and the difference between right
and wrong. Your attitude toward this child and the sensibilities
you impart will be crucial to how his life develops and how
he influences others. Most important of all: Allow your child
to be him or herself; allow your children to teach you how
to live a more meaningful life.
When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart talk with
a younger person about the real issues of life? A talk about
our place in the world and what we are supposed to do with
our lives. A talk that honestly looked at pain and failure.
We must all sit down calmly with our families, with our young
people, and talk about our lives and aspirations.
But remember, without love, our influence will be at best
incomplete and at worst, destructive. Love means sensitivity
-- not to our ideas and our standards, but to our children’s
and, most important, to G-d’s.
As parents and teachers we must remember to be humble, to
develop the trait of humility. We are not the source of guidance
and information, but a vehicle for that which comes from a
greater, higher place. How can we be arrogant in dispensing
this knowledge? We should feel blessed with the opportunity
to impart it to our students and children. Above all, remember
this: Words that come from the heart enter into the heart.
As a parent and teacher, you must mean what you say, and you
must be a living example of what you teach.
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