My Child —My “Speed Bump”

I have learned many things from my nine-year-old son, Ted.

I always feel proud that he reminds me to do the right thing, which I had taught him in his younger years. One day, as I was cleaning my kitchen, I found some leftovers and wanted to dispose of them. So I told my son to go and give them to the neighbors. He immediately replied, “Mom, this food doesn’t smell good.

If we wouldn’t eat this, why do you want to give it to others? ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ [Matthew 7:12, NIV].” Dumbfounded, I did not know how to reply. I quietly lowered my head in shame and threw the food into the garbage. Another memorable incident that is etched fondly in my memory occurred on a Saturday evening. I was washing dishes when my son came to me and said, “Mommy, the Sabbath is not over yet, and you have started your work.” I was reminded of these inspired words from the devotional book Our Father Cares: “We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time.”* I felt deeply convicted by his words, left my work, and sat down for the evening worship.

Whenever I get moving at too fast a pace in life, forgetting what the Lord says to me, my little son is like a “speed bump.” He slows me down and reminds me of the little things that the Lord has asked me to do. Is it possible that our children have a thing or two to teach us? Is it possible that their innocence and zest for life give them a perspective that we jaded adults may have lost? I believe so.

I believe that if we open our eyes and hearts, we will find much we can learn from our children about God and His desires for us.

It’s easy for us as parents to take on a know-it-all attitude with our kids. But maybe it’s time for us to realize that we do not, in fact, know all there is to know about life. Maybe it’s time for us to look at these little people and uncover the nuggets of wisdom they have to offer. Lord, give us the humbleness to learn from little children because You have said that we must become like little children (see Matthew 18:3).

Esther Synthia Murali