These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.
Into the Text
Sweet sister,
Every day, we are given a beautiful opportunity and responsibility: to teach our children the enduring truths of God’s Word. It’s more than just a Sunday routine. It’s a daily rhythm of sharing, explaining, and living out the Scriptures in a way that touches their hearts and minds.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 is known as the “shema.” It was a prayer that Jews would center their days and lives around. The command to follow God’s Word and ways and to pass it along to future generations is still a call for believers today. It is not something that guides a few parts of our lives but every aspect, no matter where we are or what we are doing.
Our role as mothers in our children’s spiritual growth is so important. It’s about nurturing their faith with patience and the understanding that spiritual growth, like physical growth, is a process. It’s about being there to answer their questions, to pray with them, and to guide them in understanding that they can trust God, even when the world seems untrustworthy.
One key portion of the “shema” is the call for obedience. Hebrews 12 tells us that God disciplines his children out of His great love and care for their well-being. We, too, have the opportunity to discipline our children when they are disobedient to our rules and God’s rules. This is not a discipline out of anger or wanting to control what our children do. It is a loving response to help them see what a life of flourishing under God’s guidance and care looks like. We all need to be reminded when we have strayed from the path and need to be brought back to a place of safety. This may be one of the hardest parts of parenting but one that God has called us to.
In those quiet moments at bedtime, in the car rides to school, during family dinners – every moment can be an opportunity to speak God’s truths into their lives. Let’s be intentional in making God’s Word a constant presence in our homes so that they can see the importance of God’s Word in every area of their lives.
Remember, sweet friend, in teaching them about God’s love, promises, and faithfulness, we are not only shaping their understanding of Him but also drawing them closer to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Prayer
Dear Jesus, guide me as I teach my children Your Word. Help me to do so with love, patience, and wisdom. May Your truths be on my lips and in my heart, so I can impart them to my children in every aspect of our daily lives. Amen.