Parents as Teachers

Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:1-7

“I’m going to be in Mr. Simon’s class,” said Micah as he and his friend Hudson rode their bikes past the neighborhood schoolyard. “Do you know who your teacher will be?”

Hudson grinned. “Yep. Mom and Dad. I’m not going back to that school.” “Yeah, right,” said Micah. “Everybody has to go to school!”

“Sure, but not to a school building. Some of the kids at our church are homeschooled, and Mom and Dad are going to teach me at home too,” explained Hudson. “Since I’m really interested in animals in the oceans, Mom said we could do a special section on that. Isn’t that cool?”

Micah nodded, but he was doubtful. Can parents really teach kids like the teachers at school do? he wondered.

When he got home, Micah went to the kitchen where his dad was cooking dinner. “Hey, buddy,” Dad said. “How about slicing some carrots for the soup I’m making?”

“Sure.” Micah washed his hands and then followed his dad’s instructions for how to slice the carrots. “Hudson isn’t coming back to school this year,” he told his dad. “His parents are going to homeschool him.”

“Really?” said Dad. “Well, I know you’ll miss him at school, but you can still see him in the afternoons and on weekends.”

Micah nodded and handed Dad the sliced carrots. Dad tossed them into the pot. “Now we have to let it cook for a while so it thickens,” Dad said.

Micah began his homework at the kitchen table. “Dad, can you help me with this math problem?” he asked.

Dad came over, and they went through the problem together. “Oh, now I get it,” Micah said. He grinned. “You’re a good teacher. I guess kids don’t have to go to a school building to learn.”

“They certainly don’t,” said Dad. “In fact, one of the roles God has given parents is to be teachers. Your mom and I may not be teaching you all your school subjects like Hudson’s parents, but we take our responsibility to teach you about Jesus and what He says in His Word very seriously.” Dad got up to stir the soup. “And I hope we’ve taught you some other things too.”

Micah grinned. “You have—like how to make soup!” • Sherry L. Kuyt

How About You?

Would you include parents in your list of teachers? School teachers, church teachers, piano teachers, sports coaches—all teachers are important, but parents are some of the most important teachers God has given you. He’s put them in your life to teach you all kinds of things—especially things like who He is and how much He loves you. Learn from your parents and listen carefully to their teaching.

Today’s Key Verse:
Proverbs 4:1 Children, listen to your father’s teaching. Pay attention and you will learn how to learn. (ERV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Learn from parents