Impress Them

My precious sister loves my children well, loves them like her own, even before she had two girls of her own. She and my daughter are very much alike as God designed them. Both taught 5th grade for three years before staying home with children. Both love to bake and their love language is giving gifts.

I have a simple picture book, handmade by my sister before PhotoBooks became a thing. She printed, captioned, punched, and tied photos together with pink ribbon so that I could be a part of her Christmas cookie baking with my daughter. Caroline was barely 3 at the time but she remembers this special time with her Aunt Kimmy because she loved looking at that little book. Apparently I should have been better about taking pictures to preserve memories as well because my daughter asked me once why I never baked cookies with her.

I’m trying to catalog all the moments with my grandchildren that I thought I’d never forget as a young momma. The days, weeks, and months go by so quickly. Those precious moments are soon outgrown and though powerful, our minds are only capable of holding so many things at once.

I’m thankful for apps like Google Photo which make saving all these precious memories a breeze. I am greeted each morning by flashbacks the moment I pick up my phone. Moments that make me smile and even laugh at times scroll across my screen. As I reminisce, I think about what was significant about each day. There are Christmas and Easter photos, birthdays, and vacations, but mostly it’s just times I was with my grandchildren with nothing particular to do but I want to remember- and I want them to remember- this day.

Wherever you are, sitting at home, walking along the street, from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night, there is one very important thing we are commanded to talk about, diligently teach and impress upon our children.

The Shema Israel is a still repeated prayer of practicing Jews, prayed both morning and evening. Addressing the Lord as God alone, these Old Testament scriptures are a reminder to love the Lord God and to share His love and His law with future generations.

“Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/deu.6.7.NIV

“Repeat them again and again to your children.

Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

Deuteronomy 6:7 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.6.7.NLT

“You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:7 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/deu.6.7.AMP

Learning by repetition was important in a culture where written texts were few and accessible only to the educated elite. Repeating these simple phrases morning and evening would have become second nature, even for little ones. I learned prayers as a child which were repeated at mealtimes and bedtime. One line will no doubt be enough for you to recognize each one.

God is great…

Now I lay me down to sleep…

Our Father, who art in heaven…

I’m always surprised by how few young people today find these familiar. Some may recognize simple songs used for asking a blessing.

God our Father, we thank you for our many blessings. Amen.

Psalms set to music were an everyday part of Israel’s history lessons. Many of the Old Testament prophets and New Testament preachers quoted lengthy passages detailing Israel’s history in order to point to Jesus as Messiah. Repeating these details again and again at the feasts and festivals commanded by God was meant to prepare a people for their coming King. They were supposed to recognize Jesus immediately because He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

Yet how often do the prayers and Scriptures that we know from memory become simply rote- mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition? I know I’ve often caught my own mind wandering while reading familiar passages in my Bible. I’ll find my thoughts in an entirely different vein though my eyes are still following the text on the page. I’ve reread a passage several times, in fact, to cause myself to focus on each word. Reading from a different Biblical translation helps me slow my thoughts enough to deliberately concentrate on the printed words rather than the familiar ones rushing ahead in my mind.

As Christmas approaches and we begin our preparations, what conversations do we need to be having around our tables, during our commutes, in our homes and offices? I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but the Good News is something to be thankful for and celebrate all year long!

“Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.””

Acts of the Apostles 2:38-39 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/act.2.38-39.NLT