Are you particular about what
your children eat? They would still Grow up if you let
them eat pizza, pop and chips every day, wouldn't
they? But we are learning more and more about the
effects of various ingredients in what we eat.
Saturated fats, artificial sweeteners, preservatives,
etc., make a difference in more than just the taste.
They can effect you and your child's health,
contributing to obesity, high cholesterol, juvenile
diabetes, etc.. They can affect learning ability and
behavior, contributing to hyperactivity, inability to
pay attention, lack of energy, headaches, etc..
Prepared foods are very convenient, but more and more
parents are learning to read the ingredients and be
alert for sugars, fats, or other "red lights" leading
the list. It is unfortunate that healthier foods are
often more expensive, but, when the full effects are
known, it seems to be worth it. Fortunately, one good
thing careful parents can do is prepare food
themselves, using fresh ingredients.
So what about the things that are
put into your children through their eyes and ears,
the things they learn? Does it matter much as long as
they learn to read and write, get an education and
graduate? Like the food that fuels our bodies, the
actual ingredients of the information and education we
provide for our children does make a difference both
in the short term and the long term. Just as you don't
remember every meal you ate, you won't remember every
lesson you learn, but all of them still made a
difference in how you grew up and lived. The various
ingredients in what we learn make a difference in how
we feel, what we learn to like, how we behave, how we
react to difficulty, etc. This is what motivates
Christian parents who chose an education for their
children that includes Jesus and his gospel as a
primary ingredient. Lutheran parents even realize that
it is not just talking about Jesus in one way or
another but what is specifically taught concerning the
true faith is important.
Is there a cost to Lutheran Education? Certainly, but those
who have children grow up on it agree that it is worth it.
At the same time, careful Christian parents don't just
leave it to the school to train their children. They also
make sure that they are feeding the child's faith in
healthy ways by what they themselves do at home and as a
family.
Be a picky parent. Pay attention to the ingredients, and
see how it makes a difference in the life of your children
and in your life as well.