It has rained here all day. This means that my children, not able to play outside after their schoolwork, were rather restless. Then the electricity went out. Living in the forest, we never know how long it will stay out. Therefore, Abigail and Andrew made a tent in the living room out of blankets, chairs and rubber bands. After the excitement of that wore off Aaron broke out the Monopoly game. I was sitting on the couch trying to study my Sunday school lesson while listening to them talk about which game piece they wanted to be. It took me back to my childhood for just as second as I remembered always wanting to be the car. However, playing with my older brother I usually ended up being stuck with the dog or thimble (which no one ever wanted to be). It was then that I heard my son say something about the upside-down trash can. I found this very amusing. To a child who does not know what a thimble is or who has never had anyone explain it to him, it makes perfect sense to call it an upside-down trash can. That’s exactly what it looks like.

This made me think. I wonder what other preconceived notions my children have because I have failed to teach them the truth? While the correct terminology for the Monopoly pieces is not that big of a deal, there are many truths that my children need to be taught that are a very big deal. The most significant truths are, of course, about God and His Word. When the children of Israel passed over the Jordan into the promise land, God told Joshua to take 12 stones out of the midst of the river and set up a monument as a reminder of what great work God had done. That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. (Joshua 4:6-7) It was the parents’ job to pass on the story to their children of how God parted the waters for the second time. It was their job to convey the glorious message that the mighty hand of God works miracles for his children. If they had failed who knows what mixed up theory and incorrect tale the future generations would have passed on.

Likewise, it is my job to pass on the wonderful spiritual truths of God to my children. If I fail to teach my children then they will conjure up their own ideas. Worse than that, Satan and the worldly system greatly desire to impart lies and deception on to these impressionable minds and will work tirelessly to do just that. If I am unsuccessful as their parent to give them Truth bases on God’s Word than what they will be given will be garbage, not fit for even a trash can (upside-down or not).