The Milieu of Life

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you like down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

My former pastor in Pennsylvania used to quote Jay Adams advice on teaching children about God.  He said it should be worked into “the milieu of life,” or everyday living.  That’s basically what Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

I know I do this imperfectly, but I certainly am trying.  Here are some of the rather humorous results of this process:

Last week at breakfast Karissa was looking earnestly into the face of her doll.  “Heidi,” she crooned, “do you know that God loves you even more than I love you?”

Today in the car we were talking about how “even mommy is a sinner and does bad things.”  She challenged me for examples.  (Among others) I told her sometimes I’m selfish and think I’m more important than other people.  How touching was her reply: “But you ARE more important!”

We also were discussing how heaven is better than earth.  (At the playground: “But how can it be nicer? This is nice!”)  I was trying to explain that there would be no sin, no bad people, no bugs, etc.  She wanted to know, “But will the big bad wolf be there?”