Wet Cement

I’m reading a book right now entitled Children Are Wet Cement by Anne Ortlund - have you read it?  The basic premise is simply that – children are wet cement waiting to be molded.  She talks a lot about how impressionable they are and how to take advantage of that impressionability while we can.  To me so far, it’s mainly encouraging and reminds me to use every moment I have to teach them.

One quote I read tonight is on discipline.  She says:
         “How do you know how to judge the severity of punishment?  Don’t judge by the act’s inconvenience to you.  If what he’s doing is pure childishness that will pass away (spitting, playing in the toilet – things that mostly annoy only you), take it easy.  If what he’s doing is the seed of adult sin (defying your word, lying, and so forth), punish; get it out… 
         His feelings are not the most important factor.  If Christ’s feelings on the cross had been the most important, how could the Father ever have let His Son be crucified?  But the Father knew the great principle that sin and pain go together, and Christ was assuming payment for our sin.  It is crucial for any child to learn that there is no sin without pain.  If his sin is consistently accompanied by pain, he’ll begin to try to avoid sin.”

I thought the example of feelings and Christ on the cross was interesting.  I also like the reminder of determining the severity of punishment.  Too often I punish based on irritants rather than roots of sin.

She also gave a word picture of sculpting our children while constantly looking back and forth from our child to the model of Christ.  A behavior comes up – does Christ have that lump on him?  No?  Then get it off quickly!  Mold and shape quickly before it sets!

Thank you God that our children are wet cement – that they are still moldable and changeable.  Give me the wisdom and endurance to mold them according to your will.  Give me the ability to still be wet and moldable in your hands as well.