#64: How to educate your children for salvation

The education of children is homework for parents.  Homework is work meant to be done at home. The education of children is work that parents do at home.

The quality of the school, where your children go to, has no correlation to the quality of people that your children will be.  The quality of the education that you personally provide to your children has positive correlation to the quality of the people that your children are and will be. If you want your children to be successful in life, then you have to educate them.

For a catholic, the most important goal and the only one transcendent is to accomplish eternal salvation. If your children achieved salvation then they were successful in life.

How then, are you going to educate your children for salvation?

Before answering this question, were are going to reflect upon a passage of the book of Judges, that may give you insight to find the answer yourself.  I recommend that you pray to the Holy Spirit before reading ahead.

16 Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them from the power of their despoilers,

17 they did not listen to their judges, but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods. They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken, and did not follow their example of obedience to the commandments of the LORD.

18 Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors.

19 But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their fathers, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.[1]

Reflection points.
1. God is the first stakeholder interested in raising people among the Church to teach us the way to heaven.  The family is the domestic church.  Therefore, God has determined that parents teach their children the way to salvation.
2. When parents are not around, children tend to rebel or relax in their conduct.  The more time that parents are away the more the children grow accustomed to rebellious and morally relaxed behaviour. Do not be surprised if children that receive no faith education directly from their parents end up seeking by themselves and finding a variety of exotic ways or gods. If this process repeats itself from one generation to the next then great grandchildren will most likely follow very different lifestyles than their great grandparents.  Take it for a fact, that it is part of human nature to seek some type of god even if we are not taught to do so.

What have we learned in this passage about how to educate our children for salvation?

1. Father and mother must be close to God, they must live in grace.
2. For as long as they live together with their children, parents must teach them to obey the commandments for the love of God.
3. Parents must protect their children from harm to body and soul, while children grow in wisdom to discern for themselves.

By following these 3 steps, your children will grow to be judges, in the biblical sense, and they will teach your grandchildren, even if you are no longer around.

We ask Holy Mary to intercede for us and to teach us to educate our children in the true faith that grants eternal life.

Thank you for reflecting with me this passage of Holy Scripture.  This is a place where you are appreciated.  This is a place where you are loved in Christ.  You are the purpose of my blog.  May God bless you abundantly.

I love to read your comments.  What do you get from this reflection? Just write about anything you want that could be helpful to you or someone else.

[1]   Judges,  2,  16-19