Answer when they ask...

An excerpt of Deut 6: 20 -21 says: The next time your child asks you...tell your child...

So we don't take it out of context, the excerpt is from Deuteronomy 6 which talked about how to respond to our children's questions on why we obey the word of God.
The principle shared here applies to every aspect of life - Christianity is not a religion

- it is a distinguished lifestyle.

Just 2 days ago, we talked "briefly" about Chicken, Ostrich and Penguin-type parents. As parents, we all have to take care of our children and some of us are "ostrich-like" parents who don't have the wisdom required to do that. Though common sense is not common, believe me, it takes a lot more than common sense to raise a child right. God has graciously gone beyond common sense and made wisdom freely available - all we need to do is ask:

"But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you;

because God gives generously and graciously to all." (James 1:5 - GNT)

It's a great relief to know that: "He will not rebuke you for asking." (James 1:5b - NLT)

Talking about the relevance of wisdom when it comes to raising children, have you ever been in a situation where a child - yours or another person's - says something or asks a question and you wonder: "where did he/she get that from?"  Like our parents would likely have said when we were young and came up with such "advanced" topics, "the world has changed." Children are getting smarter - simply because they are exposed to more things in this technologically advancing world. We must advance too...to be one step ahead of them.

We need all the wisdom we can get to answer their questions truthfully - for instance, bees and butterflies tale doesn't fly because it is a lie and should never be told by a Christian parent. If we do not take the time to answer our children when they ask, you can be sure that they will go to other people for the answer - which we will very likely not be pleased with. If you're caught off guard when they ask those "where do babies come from?" type questions, rather than wave it off, sit down at that time, if possible, or later to explain. Lying or ignoring them is wrong - the truth they know will set them free especially from giving in to ungodly peer pressure.

When children ask, answer them - those are teachable moments we must never miss...