I have noticed that children often take on the same interests and characteristics of their parents. It is said that if the same child were to have grown up under different parents, they would have become a different person. Do you think that's true?
Take my life for example. As a child, I don't recall that my dad was much of a sports enthusiast. I never grew up around sports except through my friends. My wife, on the other hand, grew up around sports. Her three older brothers were deep into hockey, football, curling, and many other sports. Much of that was as a result of her father. As a result, she too knew mostly sports and therefore loves them. As for me, my mom was in love with music and my dad with electronics. Unlike children of today with their PS2's and X-Boxes, my dad had a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack (a computer with no hard drive and a processor less powerful than most of today's graphic calculators). Instead of games, my dad would buy me programming books and cassette tapes. If I wanted to play a game, I had to first write the program using the instructions from the books, then save them onto the cassette tape(no hard drive, remember? And floppy disks were expensive). I learned the basics for computer programming at a very early age.
My mom taught me a love for music. She sang and played the accordion. As a result, I sang in the children's choir from age 5-13. At 10, I was a part of a musical production of the Music Man and I pretended to play the french horn. That production gave me an interest in marching bands, so I joined a real band at age 11, where I learned to play the euphonium. When I couldn't sing because of my voice change, I began working in the sound booth at my church.
I grew up around electronics and music, therefore I became a musician and a lover of electronics. My wife grew up around sports, so she sees curling the way I see computer programming.
But that brings up the question I posed before. Do you believe that a child would become a different person if they grew up in a different family environment? Some would say that it is genetics. It is in our blood. After all, my sister and youngest brother grew up with an amazing talent for art. They can draw like I could only imagine. But while they excel in art, they lack in music. My other brother and I love to play an instrument, but we have limits in our drawing abilities. He plays the piano while I play the euphonium, trombone, trumpet, and a little alto sax. If the genetics theory is true, then did I have any hope in becoming an athlete? I mean, sure...I was a bowler, diver, and at one time (believe it or not) a gymnast. But that was a long time ago and I'm sure that many of you sports enthusiasts would say that bowling and diving aren't real sports.
If a child's development is based on our parents interests being put upon us, then could parents be limiting their children's growth? Their maturity? My wife recently read these words to me. I'm not sure where she got them but now I pass them on here."Is the sole purpose of having a biological child so that you can say to others, 'Oh look. He/She has my nose, my eyes' thereby fulfilling your own ego by thinking that you created that child? That child was not created for our benefit but rather to bring glory and honour to God, the child's true Creator. God blessed you with a gift, a child HE created for you. Have you asked what God wants for your child, or have you told God how things will be?"
God has a plan and a purpose for each person...each child. He puts that child into the lives of those He feels will offer the best upbringing. So if that is true, we should be humble and give our children back to God. If our children are to know and grow in sports when neither parent has ever been interested, I think that it is our duty and responsibility to support our children's development and growth in sports. But of this I'm certain. God wants parents to teach all children of His word, and raise them in Godly ways. For they are His children first.
Even if that child is not a biological offspring of a couple but one who was left behind, whether by abandonment or by death, for adoption. That child is a
child of God. He wants all of us to take the responsibilities in caring for His children. May we do our part with humility and honour to God to make sure that every child has the chance to grow into the Godly person whom He desires of them.Jesus Loves the little children.
All the Children of the world.
Red and Yellow, black and white.
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
6 comments:
Good blog Rod. I think there are both biological and enviromental factors that influence a child. Some attributes are genetic, but others are learned. Most adopted people, if they meet their biological parents, find that they have many similarities in looks, etc. However, since their environment was different while they were under the influence of their adopted parents, they find that many mannerisms, ethics, passions, and outlook are from the home influence. These are the more essential qualities and characteristics anyhow. What matters more in a child's life is not genetic attributes but environmental influence. Adoption can save a child's life and give them a future of inspiration.
so funny... as I was reading this blog I started singing Jesus loves the little children... got emabarrased because someone walked in, then as I finished the blog saw you must have been doing tha same, although maybe not out loud... laughed out loud, and was embarrased again, because the person that had walked in was one of my students and I didn't want to tell them I had been blogging when they are supposed to be starting class.
So shallow, after Kyles deep thoughts type comments I know... but a true story.
For me the most important thing for the child is that they feel loved and accepted. The type of environment the child is raised in will impact the child's development. Parents need to realize that their child was not created in order to become representations of themselves, but rather should be seen as unique individuals. A child needs to be nurtured, encouraged but most of all LOVED unconditionally. It is important that we as Christians reach out to touch the lives of children who need a home.
Some other good examples of loving a child unconditionally might be to love a child who was born with a disability, or perhaps a child born as a result of an abuse(rape or fetal alcohol syndrome). These are not things that a child could control, so they should not be seen as a crutch from loving that child unconditionally.
After reading Rod's comment I am reminded of a John 9:1-3 that reads: " As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His discplies asked him, "Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parent's sin? Jesus answered, "His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parent's sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him."
I have worked extensively with cognitively impaired adults who developmentally act like children.First hand I can see the power and love of Christ working through them, touching people's lives. If you ever get the chance to volunteer with indivduals who have a disability "GO For It! You will be amazed how it impacts not only your life but theirs. If you listen God will SPEAK to you!!!
I agree with I Thirst regarding "the most important thing for the child is that they feel loved and accepted." I agree that children are not created by God to be exact representations of themselves, but there is no way they can escape becoming partially like their parents (biological or adoptive). It's just part of how things are. We are all shaped somewhat by others around us.
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