Sunday, July 22, 2012
When you teach: Lessons learnt from taking care of my niece
So, I have been taking care of my niece lately. I love spending time with her. Kids really need us to spend time with them, though we may be doing the same things over and over again each day.. as simple as just playing with toys (it could be the same toys for a few days), or just singing and doing silly dances around the house.I recently brought my niece to the safari and I was excited to show her all the animals she has seen in the books and videos, in real life! Safari was a great place, I was amazed myself and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Felt like a kid again..
She said that zebra was horse and that goose was duck. Because we have taught her how a horse and duck look like. We haven't really taught her zebras and goose. And every swimming creatures she saw was fish to her. I had to teach her that dolphins aren't fish. They are mammals. So I had to correct her again and again. "This is not fish, this is dolphin. Dolphin.."
When she finally got it right, I had such a great sense of satisfaction.
It reminded me that in teaching the young, we have to be specific and we have to teach the right things. It takes more effort to undo a wrong teaching. Cos the little ones are absorbent as sponge. They take in everything you say, and they trust that you are telling them the right things.
So lesson #1: Teach pure milk! When you know a new believer, that's what you ought to do. Teach them PURE stuff from the bible. Not your opinion, what you think is right, not your worldview, but what is God's view.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:1-3
1 Peter 2:1-3
Sometimes, what my niece say catches my attention, and gets me thinking, Oh my! Who taught her that? This morning I caught her saying "No.. Please go away!", in a rather rude tone.
I remember before a mission trip to Surabaya, God gave me a revelation about how a child learns. I didn't have a niece then. I knew nothing about taking care of a baby or toddler. But I had to minister to care-takers in a orphanage. I felt so under equipped. But God in His goodness taught me something. Before I left for the mission trip, I witnessed a girl's interaction with her mom. Her mom works for my family. Her little girl was whiny and rude. I thought to myself, oh my.. why a little girl can be so rude? Then Holy Spirit reminded me that she was only mirroring her mother.
Monkey see, monkey do. That's how kids learn.
Lesson #2: Teach by example. Live your life right. People are observing.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Cor 11:1
1 Cor 11:1
Not again! What did I tell you??
We often say this to her. There is really great need for patience when teaching a kid. They won't do it right the first time. They will not do it right the second time. No more next time, you tell them. They said, yeah I promise. But the next day they forget what you taught them.
It takes time for a habit to form and it also takes time to remove a habit. So, be patient. As Jesus is patient with you, be patient with others.
Lesson #3: Teach by love, long-suffering love. People deserve a second, third, fourth chance.. 77x7
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-2
Ephesians 4:1-2
Well that's all for now... blessings.
by apple-addict at 8:54 PM |
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