Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our GOD is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy GOD with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [King James translation]
Scripture Discussed
Before the pandemic, many people believed that the secular education of children was the sole responsibility of the nation’s school system. Likewise, some Christians believed that the religious education of their children was the responsibility of their church or their child’s Sunday School teacher. However, the book of Deuteronomy makes it clear that the education of children must also occur in the home.
Deuteronomy 6:4 is called the “Shema,” a Hebrew word which translated means “Hear,” the word that begins the verse. It is as if the speaker emphatically tells its audience to “LISTEN UP!” because what is about to follow is really important. What follows is what some consider the “heart” of Judaism and the basic principles of the religious faith.
One of the important tenets in Deuteronomy 6:7 is to teach the children. Teach them when you are just sitting around talking with the children at home, when the children wake up, when the children lie down, and generally when you are just out and about walking with them every day. Deuteronomy states that education of the nation of Israel’s children should not be delegated to a school or to a church, but that the education of children should include “homeschooling.” Teaching a child about GOD is as vital as eating and sleeping. It is simply fundamental. It is necessary for healthy living. It is necessary for survival---the survival of one generation to the next.
Teaching Children
Teaching children healthy eating habits and modeling those behaviors is also important to the growth and development of healthy children today, and to the stability of our nation. According to WebMD, some of the ways to teach healthy eating habits to children are to:
Guide your family’s choices rather than dictate foods: Make a wide variety of healthful foods available in the house. This practice will help your children learn how to make healthy food choices. Leave the unhealthy choices like soda and juice at the grocery store. Serve water with meals.
Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Try to make mealtimes pleasant
with conversation and sharing, not a time for scolding or arguing. If mealtimes are unpleasant, children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress.
Involve your children in food shopping and preparing meals. These activities will give you hints about your children’s food preferences, an opportunity to teach your children about nutrition, and provide your kids with a feeling of accomplishment. In addition, children may be more willing to eat or try foods that they help prepare.
Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV. Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Eating in front of the TV may make it difficult to pay attention to feelings of fullness, and may lead to overeating.
See, “Healthy Eating Habits for Your Child,” https://www.webmd.com/children/kids-healthy-eating-habits#1
Even if you have no children or are “empty nesters” it is still important to “model” good healthy behavior. Feed yourself or your “inner child” with the same care and concern.
MORE STRETCHES
- Performed seated or standing. Place your hands in a prayer position (palms together and fingers pointing to the ceiling) with your elbows the same height as your forearms. Without moving your waist, gently move your hands to the right until you feel the stretch then back to the center. Then gently move your hands to the left until you feel the stretch and back to the center. Repeat on each side 3-10 times, taking breaks as needed.
- Performed seated or standing. Place your hands in a prayer position (palms together and fingers pointed to the ceiling). Once positioned, bring the elbows and forearms together (as much as possible) then allow the fingers to continue moving straight up over the head until each forearm is by the ear and your fingers (still together are pointing toward the ceiling) then separate the hands (keeping the fingers pointed to the ceiling until each arm is straight out to the sides (with the fingers pointed to the ceiling). Now bring the fingers inwards to your original prayer position. Continue to make a slow big circle--upward and along your sides and inward, trying to keep the fingers pointed upwards. The reverse the circle, so your hand comes from the ceiling to your start position. Make 4 to 5 circles.
As always, if you have a medical condition or you have concerns about your safety performing any stretch or exercise, consult your personal physician first before beginning any new exercise program or activity. Ask your physician for a stretching or exercise program appropriate for you.
BE CONCERNED, BE INFORMED and BE PROACTIVE
We all must also be concerned about the education and the welfare of our nation’s youth and children. We cannot leave it to “governments,” “our religious places of worship” or “someone else.” We must all be involved and stay informed.
For example, according to the California Department of Education, in 2019 only half of California students met English and Math standards for proficiency-based on test scores. In the highest group, 76.86% of the Asian students met or exceeded standards in English, and 74.37% met or exceeded the standards in math. For White students, 65.42% met or exceeded standards for English, and 54.23% met or exceeded the standards for Math. For Latino students, 40.56% met or exceeded standards in English and 28.05% met or exceeded the standards in math. For Native American students, 38.16% met or exceeded the standards in English and 26.58% met or exceeded the standards in math. For African-American students, 33.02% met or exceeded the standards in English and only 20.55% met or exceeded the standards in math.
Linda Hamilton, president of the California State Board of Education noted that because of a statewide teacher shortage, half of the new math teachers and two-thirds of new special education teachers enter classrooms without complete training. A lot of teachers have emergency credentials, which means they are not in any kind of program and these teachers tend to be concentrated in schools with high rates of poverty and a concentration of Black and Latino students. These schools also have high rates of teacher turnover, which negatively impacts students. It was noted that when the teachers leave, “professional development walks out the door with them.” See, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-09/california-school-test-scores-2019
The next generation is depending on all of us. We, in turn, need to continue to depend on GOD for help, wisdom, guidance, and direction.
So teach, be a good role model, continue to pray, and BE BLESSED!
