I graduated from a small, rural high school with 67 students in my class. When we moved to my husband’s hometown a few miles down the road, it meant my daughter would attend a much larger high school. My mother cried over our decision, worried she would get lost in the crowd of students. But I reminded her of my love for education and assured her I wouldn’t allow my daughter to fall between the cracks.
As moms, we’re the first teachers our children encounter. We bring our babies home from the hospital and gently coax them to nurse. A few months later we teach them to eat from a spoon, then we bravely allow them the freedom to feed themselves, as messy as it may be, knowing our children need to learn independence while also learning the textures of different foods and developing their fine motor skills.
Throughout our children’s lives, they’ll encounter many different teachers from kindergarten to high school and beyond. But as moms, we’ll always be their first and their constant. And each day offers a new opportunity to teach them. So great is this opportunity that Proverbs 1:8-9 teaches, “…do not forsake your mother’s teaching,” describing it as both a garland to grace your child’s head and chain to adorn her neck.
So, as your children’s first and constant teacher, what are you teaching them about faith?
Paul writes to Timothy from prison, speaking of a legacy of faith: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Even on the hard days, let’s treasure our role as our children’s first and most constant teacher. Let’s leap at the opportunity to focus on creating a legacy of faith in our families that endures for generations, just like Timothy’s!
