Thanksgiving And Training

#1795

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  (Proverbs 22:6)

It has been said, "The children of godly parents go to church every day!" 

Never doubt for a moment, that genuine piety and eminent holiness are the first requisites for all parents. No parent can expect to influence their children for good, without themselves walking wisely and worthily in the narrow path of holiness.

Here may be seen the reason that sound faithful teaching in Sunday schools, has comparatively effected so little good. It is not the fault of the church--but in the home's pernicious influence! The evil that is witnessed at home, more than counteracts the lessons learned at church!

It is the will of God that parents should exercise control over their children. They must command that which is right--and they must forbid that which is wrong. It was spoken to the praise of Abraham, that God knew that he would command his children after him to keep the way of the Lord. It was the overthrow of the house of Eli, that his sons made themselves vile--and he did not restrain them.

In Scripture children are compared to arrows--but all depends upon the direction given to the arrow by the hand that guides it. 

They are compared to vine branches--but an unpruned vine will bear no fruit worth gathering. So it is written, "A child left to himself brings his mother to shame!"

In training their children, let parents begin early. Long before a child is two years old, it will know the meaning of an emphatic "No." Even at that tender age, some measure of discipline may begin.

Yield not to the self-will or pettiness of a child. What you once say--let it be law. Without some special cause--do not turn from it. Especially punish lying and disobedience--they are the root of all that is evil.

Yet with firmness, be very gentle. Harshness is a cold wind, that nips in the bud the beginnings of better things in the heart. Byron's character was ruined by the cruelty of a harsh and unfeeling mother.

Win your children by love. Draw, rather than drive. 

Make home the happiest place in the world to them.

Thanksgiving is strictly an American holiday.  The rest of the world, does not celebrate it.  I was in the Sudan once on Thanksgiving, the hotel realized that it was an American holiday and they attempted to serve an American Thanksgiving meal.  I don't know what the birds were that they cooked, seemed like char coaled pigeons...but they tried. 

Thanksgiving comes under the penumbra of both Halloween and Christmas...the two most celebrated holidays of the year, holidays on which the most money is spent.  Halloween, celebrating the devil and his followers.  Christmas, which should celebrate the birth of our savior even though we know that Jesus was born probably in September and the holiday of spending and spreeing has degenerated into a time of satanic trees and tinsel. 

The Christian should celebrate Thanksgiving everyday.  Thankfulness for every blessing of life. 

It may seem strange that a totally blind, 100% disabled Veteran could celebrate thankfulness.  Service to my country took away all the promises of this Nation which most "normal" people enjoy.   It took away my future, my security, and lastly my dignity.  The worst part, very few care.  Don't believe the government malarkey about honoring Veterans, about care for the disabled and handicap.  The disabled and handicap know where they stand.  At the courthouse, school house, even church house.   How many disabled or handicap people do you see at your church...those of you who are sighted... in restaurants/at concerts/in public parks?

The things for which I am most grateful at this Thanksgiving season, and I thank God for this each and everyday of my life.  The home from which I came, the hard working/God fearing/tax paying/concerned parents who raised me doing the best they knew.  It is because of the hard work/sweat/their ability to adjust to hard times that I have been able to adjust to what life has handed me.  Most of us did not win life's lottery, but you are a real winner if you had God fearing parents. 

My parents, their parents before then, did not ask us if we wanted to go to Sunday School or Church.  They did not ask us if we felt like going to school, felt like doing our chores, felt like eating what was on the table.  We were taught to be thankful for our home, our church, our school (as poor as our homes, churches, schools were) because in spite of everything we did the best we could with what we had.  We were taught about our heritage what our ancestors had endured in establishing themselves in this country.  I still have here in my house the iron fireplace cooking pot which was brought over form England in 1677 and which my puritan ancestors cooked their food.  It is such a disgrace to see pictures of early Americans celebrating Thanksgiving with their platters of food/decent clothing/decent housing it was a matter of survival.  Whatever they could find edible, cooked in one pot over an open fire. They did not have work animals or farm equipment...eaked out food growth not from tilled fields but from the fertile areas around the stumps of trees which they had cut down for shelter.  Just think how few tools of any type, cooking equipment, seasoning, clothing they had brought over on those small boats such as the good ship Kent, from which my ancestors landed on the shores of New Jersey.  I am so thankful I have the heritage of hard work, frugal living, loyalty to God, Family, Country.  My fellow Americans who by hook or crook have made fortunes often from the misfortunes of others do not know the inner qualities of integrity...the new birth in Christ which only the Christian can know that God looking at the Christian, sees in the Christian, the richousness of Jesus.  This is true Thanksigving!  ...not purchased at any grocery store, not cooked in any kitchen.