Who Rocks Your Babies Cradle?

There is an old saying that “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world”. Which simply means that mothers have a profound influence on their children to the extent that a mother’s attitudes are usually adopted by the child and therefore become the attitudes of the next generation. No! on second thought that isn’t what it means, because it is not always the mother who spends most time with the baby is it? So it really means that whoever spends the most time with the child, in its formative years, is the one who will shape its character and attitudes. Governments know this only too well, that is why Communist countries, and other nations that have atheistic people in charge of their educational institutions, legislate that children must enrol in some form of schooling at a very early age. The aim of this is of course to stop their parents, and other family members, influencing them by introducing them to Christian ideals and Christian living, (as you see happening in these photos ). Because these “educators” want to indoctrinate them with secular thinking instead.

That little Great Granddaughter of mine, pictured has been attending church since she was born, as were the four great grandchildren on the next page and our son that you see on Audrey’s lap. As soon as these children could understand they all wanted to be involved in daily family prayer times. Our son pictured there with Audrey, proves the truth of the scripture that says “Bring up a child in the way he should

go and when he is old he will not depart from it” because he is a grandfather now and his family are all keen Christians, of course he married a Christian wife and they have co-operated with God to achieve that wonderful outcome. On the other hand, if he hadn’t been raised as a Christian, he wouldn’t have necessarily looked for a Christian wife, would he? Nor would a Christian girl have wanted him. (2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14).

In his 2^nd letter to his young friend Timothy, (as recorded in the New Testament) Paul reminds Timothy that the faith he has is largely due to the influence of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. When we think about this some of us might have regrets that when our children were little we didn’t have a good understanding of God’s great love ourselves, so obviously didn’t bring up our children to understand God’s life changing love, and what a shame that was. Don’t get the impression that I am letting Fathers “off the hook” either, because they are also responsible for “rocking cradles”. Little boys, in particular, copy their fathers. No doubt you have heard people say “He is a chip off the old block”. Well let’s hope the “old block” was (or is) a good example!

Thank God that many people do know enough so they can pass on some faith to their children and grandchildren. Therefore, the “Good News” of Jesus saving grace that offers people forgiveness of sin, (and therefore eternal life, as outlined in the New Testament), is still being circulated by them in the community where they live, and will be passed on down to the next generation by their children and grandchildren as they also “Rock Cradles.”

To some degree each one of us affects the lives of those we meet (particularly children) and we will be held responsible by God for our example, because Jesus said that “if we place a stumbling block in the path of one of these little ones, it would have been better for us if we were never born.” You know, a young person who has been brought up to “love God and their neighbour as themselves,” could never strap a bomb to their waist and indiscriminately kill innocent people in a shopping Mall, or go to their school and shoot children and teachers. No! Children brought up in a Christian atmosphere could never do that because Jesus showed, in Luke 10 verses 25-37 (and other places), that we are to be kind to our neighbours and love our enemies.  When we next “Rock a Cradle” we should remember what a terrific responsibility we have been given. This is an interesting subject, isn’t it? Best wishes as you think it through.            Regards, Tom.