Jesus: I Speak to You Again
Chapter 13
A Child’s Upbringing
As children grow, they naturally seek answers to everything that surrounds them. One of the most important responsibilities for parents is to guide their children, patiently and lovingly explaining the world around them. This means that parents themselves must be well-educated, capable of explaining things in simple, clear words. But it isn’t enough just to explain—children must also experience life for themselves. They need to engage with the world in ways that are appropriate for their age.
Unfortunately, many families today have become distant from their children, and this broken connection between generations—between parents and their children—has led to a loss of love and respect throughout the world. The fast pace of life, combined with a focus on material things, has obscured the spiritual bonds that should unite individuals and families. It is this broken bond that gives rise to so much conflict and stress.
I was fortunate as a child. In our large family of nine children, my parents always showed us deep love. We were able to experience what it meant to love and be loved. I was especially happy when my father began taking me to his carpenter’s workshop, where I could see how he worked and created beautiful pieces of furniture. I wanted to be like him, and I was even happier when he patiently taught me how to use the tools and create something of my own.
My father couldn’t explain everything I was curious about, but he was always honest with me when he didn’t know something. His honesty didn’t diminish my love for him. As a young child, I believed my father knew everything, and when he told me that he didn’t know why lightning and thunder happened, it surprised me. I had thought he knew all things. But even though his authority wavered in my eyes for a moment, my love for him remained unchanged.
Parents must always be sincere with their children. When parents honestly admit that they don’t know something, children can feel the sincerity of that admission. But parents must also seek to know more themselves, so that they can guide their children through life’s diverse experiences. Children are born with a natural curiosity, and parents who strive to deepen their own knowledge can wonderfully handle their children’s questions and satisfy their inquisitiveness.
The attitudes parents show toward their children lay the foundation not only for their own future but for the future of all humanity. By raising children with love, patience, and understanding, parents help to shape the future of society.
As I grew older, my conversations with the heavenly Father became more frequent and deeper. I cherished the times when my father would take me to climb a large hill near Nazareth. From the top, I could look out over the surrounding countryside, and on clear days, I could even catch a glimpse of the distant sea. These outings were among my most pleasant experiences. During these walks, my father would point out the Greek cities in the distance and the direction of Jerusalem, the Jewish holy center, with its grand synagogues and sacred celebrations. From these conversations, I began to grasp how unhappy the Jewish people were under gentile oppression, and I could sense the sadness in my father’s voice when he spoke of it.
But what touched me most deeply was my father’s sincere desire to teach me and let me experience everything that was appropriate for a child of my age. He never forbade me from working alongside him, no matter how busy he was. This bond was crucial to me, as it helped me develop respect and love for him. This bond is essential not just with parents, but with everyone a child interacts with while growing up.
Sadly, this deep, loving connection is missing in many families today. Parents devote most of their energy to ensuring material well-being for their children but often overlook the importance of raising them with patience and love by actively engaging with them. Raising a child requires sincere, loving interaction, where the entire focus is on the child. Whether a father is busy with work, fixing the car, writing a paper, or simply cleaning, or whether a mother is preparing dinner, talking with a friend, or tending to family tasks, the child must always be included as a member of the family—not pushed aside.
Dear parents, you must patiently explain to your children, in simple words, what you are doing. Let them participate, even if they can’t do things perfectly. This is where your love and divine patience come in. Teach them through your actions, and include them in your daily life, even when you are busy with friends. This attention and sincerity build the living bond upon which love is based.