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Did you grow up hearing the Golden Rule? The verse that is frequently referred to as the Golden Rule is found in Luke chapter 6, verse 31 and it says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (NIV) I think that most children, even those who are not part of a church family have heard this rule. One of the purposes of learning Bible verses is so they can come into your mind when you need them. Believe me, after helping many children memorize verses to recite on AWANA club nights, I have learned many. Obviously, the children recognize these verses when I recite them as well. I had a conversation with our newest adopted daughter last night about Luke 6:31.
Although, we just finalized the adoption of our newest daughter in November, she has lived with us for over three years. That means three years of AWANA every Monday night, three years of Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and Christian summer camps. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how she was treating her older brother, especially with me in the room. Lane, 15, was sitting directly across from her trying to have a conversation with her. He asked her the same question three times. She never looked up from her book, and never answered. Then I asked her the question and she answered me.
I asked what that was about and Lane said, “She always treats me like that.” She then acknowledged his words were true. I asked if she would like to be treated that way and she admitted she would not. She said that she didn’t know why she treats him that way. We reviewed some other verses and I asked her to stop treating him so badly. She said she would, so we will see. Ty gave her a really hard time about it. She and Ty are closest in age in our family and so play together frequently. However, all the boys are very close, so he was angry. He must have never noticed and obviously, Lane wasn’t tattling.
Romans 7:19
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (NIV)
Romans 7:20
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (NIV)
Galatians 5:17
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (NIV)
Photo Credit Lane fuller 2005
I confess I don’t always have a great attitude about Awanas. My daughter learns verses SO easily and quickly, but they seem to mean nothing to her. (I don’t believe we can Make the Bible have meaning for any child or adult, but rather, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to connect the head and heart.) Our daughter has in the past “prayed the prayer” but I see little or no spiritual interest or growth. She gets praise and approval for her involvement in Awanas, but it’s a very different picture at home.
Ignoring conversation and questions is something we see also. (As opposed to ignoring others’ annoying behaviors — that type of ignoring is encouraged !!) When she asks repeated questions or nonsense questions I tend to let it go and she will ofetn answer herself . . . so have I taught her to ignore conversation? All I can say is, her verbal patterns within the family are still very odd. Of course, in other settings she looks wonderful. — Rachel