That moment after you give birth every one of us start to make and mold our children. We first teach them to nurse. They can’t get milk for themselves nor do they know how to even latch to momma or a bottle. They rely solely upon us. We begin to teach them that they can trust us to give them what they need. As they grow, we care for them, swaddle them, rock and love them. Our little darlings are learning every day from us.
When we think of teaching our children I think our minds go directly to schooling them in math, science, reading etc… Although, we all play a major part in the fashioning of our kids academically, I believe teaching is one of our greatest obligations as a mother. Let’s look to Hannah in 1 Samuel to see how she taught Samuel at such a young age.
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
1 Samuel 1:21-23
Hannah’s prayer for a child was answered and she kept her promise to the Lord. But how did she teach Samuel? By being an example.
Our children follow behind us, they mimic the way we walk, talk, characteristics, moods and so on. They learn by watching us. We teach them without even realizing we do.
I don’t think Hannah’s praying stopped when she left that altar pleading for a child. No, it was her every day life. If we are to teach our children, they need to follow our example of prayer. Is prayer an every day occurrence in your home? No matter your schedule and how busy it gets, you should begin and end your day in prayer with your children. As my girls were growing, the normal habit in our home began and ended with reading our Bibles and prayer. Once I awoke them or put them to bed, I wanted their first and last thoughts to be on the Lord. Nothing else is more important than that! NOTHING! I’m sure Hannah was the same. Samuel heard his momma pray as she nursed him, as she did her daily tasks. Our children need to see us in constant prayer. It shows them Who we serve and trust. Share answers to prayer with them. Ask them to help you pray for something. Don’t make light of their little prayer requests. If it matters to them, then it matters to Jesus, and it should to us as well. If we fail to teach our babies the power of prayer, we fail in our obligation as a mother.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Psalm 55:17
I believe Hannah began to mold and teach Samuel by her example of praise. I’m sure as she held her precious son she let the tears fall thanking the Lord for him. I’m sure she lifted her voice in songs of praise. Our darlings should hear us praise the Lord for them. For the miracle of their birth, the privilege to be a momma, and the honor to raise them for Him. Praise is beautiful. It is the revealing of our souls in love. One can’t praise in a heart of hate. It’s distasteful and bitter, but when a heart of love begins to lift up and be thankful, the beauty is indescribable. Praise to the One who saved us, who answers our prayers, who supplies our needs, who heals our broken heart, who gives us the desires of our heart is something our children need to hear. They also need to be praised. As we teach them, let them know they did right and how proud we are of them. As much as they need guiding, they need praise. It’s beautiful and it makes a child with a beautiful spirit.
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psalm 147:1
As the time came for Samuel to be weaned, Hannah could rest assured he was ready for serving the Lord because she has taught him by her example of practice. Samuel saw his momma for who she really was. Her way of life spoke volumes to him. He saw her walk with the Lord, he saw her forgiveness to others (look at her adversary in 1 Samuel 1:7), he saw her respect and adoration for her husband and the list goes on. He followed by the example his momma practiced. She loved, so he loved. She gave (Samuel to the Lord), so he gave (his own self to serve). How we live daily is how our children will. We need to make sure we are always walking in the ways of the Lord. This world has such a strong pull on us as moms. It wants us to think we need “me time”, we need the best of everything and we don’t need a man or anyone. We can do it ourselves. This is ungodly and goes against scripture! Yes I believe we need time to ourselves but it shouldn’t be an every day thing that we push our children away from us. My girls weren’t a burden to me that I just had to get away from. My girls were my blessings. I found that when I needed me time, I really needed prayer time. Once I spent that extra minute in prayer, my spirit was refreshed and I could tackle what I needed to as a momma. Loving and living for the Lord should be the basis of my everything as a momma. In teaching our children, let’s make sure our walk talks louder than our talk talks.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Psalm 101:2
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:5-6
I think sometimes we think our teaching has to be textbook and by a certain formula. There are no perfect books out there but one and that’s the precious Word of God. It can guide us and make us into the mother who fulfills our obligation in teaching. So that one day our children will become servants for the Lord like Samuel did. They will move from the Milk to the Meat of His Word!!! They will be weaned and ready to serve. Samuel wasn’t just a good kid, he was a godly kid! Every momma worth her salt desires a child who is fully feasting on the meat of God’s Word.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
Momma’s remember this….A mother doesn’t have to have a degree in teaching but every mother does have to teach their child. What, How, When and Why makes all the difference in their hearts!
Come back next week for Part 3…
Again, such a convicting reminder! Thanks. ❤️
😊☺️❤️🙌🏼