Hello There! First, I would Like to start by saying that I Hope you and your loved ones had an amazing New Year celebration. New Year is always exciting and we all have something to look forward to as a new year, new month, new week and a new day comes. And I pray and hope that 2023 will be a very productive year for us. Well today, I was going over my old notes I have written, and I came accross a draft I had on a certain topic and I realized I never got to finish it. So I was thinking, “What if this is my first blog of 2023?” and I believe it is very fitting that we start the year off with the topic I mention below in mind as we go into this year! So, I hope you Enjoy reading it! And share with anyone you believe will benefit from what I am about to share.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

This verse is often used as a means to encourage parents to raise their children in the ways of God. If a parent teaches their children the word of God and lead by example by living a godly life then once their children are older they will live out their lives based on they have seen and learned and pass them down to their children. However, Today I would like to point out one of the key concepts that have helped me understand this verse differently.
You see, growing up, I always hear many say in Amharic “ልጅህን…” (Translates to “your child”) when quoting this verse. This means this verse only concerns those that have children. But one time I realized as Holy Spirit helped me understand that it said “ልጅን” which translates to “a child” and that is a very inclusive term. At the time, I was just starting to teach in Sunday school and that verse made a huge difference in the way I served and lived as well (still does to this day). I understood that I don’t necessarily have to be their parent to influence their future. In the same manner, this can also be a verse that can be alarming for us to take our position as believers and invest in the younger generation so that they will grow in the kingdom culture. If we neglect this calling in our lives, this world is full of men and women who are out to shape the mind of the next generation. That is why you see that many media outlets target a younger audience with creative and catchy songs, arts and crafts videos, and whatever is pleasing to the eyes of a young child. (SIDE NOTE:Have you noticed that the majority of children’s videos are one of the most viewed videos on youtube? I am amazed at the fact that every time I come across animations and children’s films they always have millions of views.)

The problem is, often these contents are also filled with worldly views that do not necessarily match the values we have as kingdom citizens. Let me share a personal experience that might help with what I am writing about. When I was younger, I used to spend the majority of my time after school with my youngest sister who was just a toddler at the time. She had this obsession with a cartoon called “Peppa Pig” and I would always watch it with her. Over time, I started getting into really observing the mannerism of the main character, Peppa’s, personality and how it was starting to rub off on my little sister. A little background on Peppa Pig if you don’t know her (well..according to my understanding of what I have seen so far). Well for starters, Peppa Pig is, a pig. And she has a Dad called Papa Pig she called “Daddy”, a Mom called Mommy Pig and a little brother called, George. One thing my sister used to do that I found cute at the time was that She used to always call our dad “Daddaayyy” (Just like Peppa). She used to jump in muddy puddles whenever she saw one (just like Peppa). Which is usual for every child to do whenever they watch a cartoon they love. They mostly imitate what the main character does. And it was cute at the time seeing my little sister imitate her with the way she talks. Now, my problem with Peppa was that according to my observations, she was entitled, does not like to see others have the spotlight, and my biggest pet peeve and something that goes against the Bible…she was disrespectful to her parents. (At this point you might think “chill, Abenezer. Just a cartoon. It’s JUST a cartoon.” Well…wait until the end of this story). Overall, I am just glad my sister did not imitate THAT and we got to it quickly because I said “Oop. Is this what I want for my little sister?” So I did what any caring older sister would do and I one time told my baby sister “Peppa Pig gots to go, sis!”. Of course, she did not handle it very well. She replied with “But whyyyy” just the way Peppa would say it. But over time I was able to work with her to help her get off that show and start looking at other shows that will positively influence her. I believe it was at this time I found “Superbook”, which is an animated series based on different characters in the Holy Bible, on YouTube. I later found out that I used to watch this same show growing up in Ethiopia on a Christian channel. Man…I was so happy when I found it on YouTube. Anyways, back to “The Tragedy of little sis and Peppa pig”. So by now, we have agreed with my sister that This favorite show of hers was no good. We started watching different ones and stopped watching other shows as well until one day, I was on my phone and I came across a research blog. And guess what this blog was about? It was a study psychologist had done on.. drum roll, please…Peppa Pig. After reading it I said, “gasp I am not crazy. I was right all this time. That show was NO GOOD.” The blog stated everything I mentioned above and everything I noticed about my younger sister and the effect the show had on her and on the study other people were confirming that the show affected their children as well.

Brothers and Sisters, as you read this, I hope you will take the time to look around those that are around you, whether they are a younger sibling, relative, or Sunday school students that you serve every Sunday. Pray that God gives you the grace and wisdom to train them up in the way they should go. You might ask, “How do I know which way they are to go?” Well, I have a verse that will help. “Jesus said to them ” I am the Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one can come to the father except through me.”

As I am reading this verse, I am encouraged and reminded to train the young ones around me to get close to Jesus who is the only way to God. Despite the many ways people would like to have joy, life, love, and all the good things in the world without acknowledging the son of God, we have the opportunity to get to know and get close to him who is Life. We know THE life. We know THE way. We know THE truth. And the younger generation that is here is looking at us. I hope you are reminded of this great calling God has placed on your life to lead the future generation by example and stay encouraged as well. You don’t necessarily have to hold the title of Sunday School teacher to have kingdom-centered influence in their life. Lead by example with the help of the Holy Spirit. Remember, 1Timothy 4:12. You can be young influencing the younger generation for the glory of God and the benefit of those that are in the world. I know in this day and age it seems like we are like a little sheep up against a pack of wolves. However, the same God that was with Little David causing him to tear apart a Lion, A Bear, and defeat A Giant, is the same God that works in us. May the Grace and Peace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with us all, Amen.
-Your Sister In Christ, Abenezer.