TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO…..PROV 22:6

 

I  recently attended a camp and because it was the long vacation, parents came with their children. I noticed that one particular family’s youngest child and I are name sakes. So one night we slept quite close and I chatted the girl up. The following morning,as we prepared to take our baths, I called out to her and asked how she was. After she had said fine, I asked her to say good morning to me to which she blurted WHY?

 

First I was surprised at her outburst and then I asked her how old she was, she said seven in primary 1! I went ahead to tell her that as a child,she is expected to greet her elders and even everyone around her especially in the morning as a sign of respect. She saw reasons with me, greeted me and I encouraged her to do same to her mom, you should see her run off with a smile to say goodmorning to her mother.

 

In that same camp, I spoke to a 12 year old first child with about three younger siblings who openly disrespected her mother and even incured the wrath of an usher who almost broke her head with a big stick for daring to openly talk back at her mother and walk out on her. I called her to a corner and adviced her. But I wonder what a five minutes advice will do in the life of a 12 year old whose mother would be challenged whenever she spoke.

 

I met another 24/26 year old fine girl who refused to participate in any of the camp program except her mother begged her, she insulted people at will and ohhh, her mom even had to bring her toothbrush to her when almost every other person had cleaned up and was prepared to start another day in camp. She was still asleep. Unfortunately,even though our paths crossed at some point and we had a brief chat about my hairstyle, I was not led to admonish her like I did the other younger ones I mentioned earlier. Maybe, she would have listened and the Holy Spirit would have touched her because no one can change anybody. It is the sole responsibility of the Holy Spirit.

 

I read a story about late Mrs. Kumiyi who had warned her boys not to disturb as they went in for an evening Bible study class in church. Trust children,they disturbed and she promised to deal with them at the end of the study. A lady watched them and made up her mind to see what would happen after the study, if she would keep to her words or not. After the Grace, she marched the two boys to the car, closely followed by this lady. She went to a nearby tree and cut sticks to beat them. When the lady saw that she meant her word,she went to plead on their behalf, but Mrs Kumiyi asked her to please excuse them that it was a family issue. She didn’t have a choice but to watch from a distance as the wife of the Pastor beat the boys as she had promised. You can bet that from that day, they didn’t need to consult a prophet to tell them how to behave in church, all they needed was a stern look from their mother to remind them of that night she had beaten them.

 

The question now is WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO TRAIN THE CHILD?

 

Train up a child in the way he should go is a call to you and I as parents, relations, neighbours, church, society…..

 

An ibo song says anyone who hears the voice/cry of child should hurry up because it is not one person who owns a child.

 

True that it is a particular woman who carries the pregnancy and puts to bed, but the minute the child comes out, it is now the responsibility of everybody to train the child.

 

You probably would ask: what is my concern?

 

When that pikin carry gun knock for your door for night, you will remember as a child that you did not beat him when he misbehaved and of course he has come to  pay you a thank you visit.

 

Train up a child in the way he should go, when he grows he will not depart from it. Who says we cannot have another Joseph in our time? who says we cannot have Daniels who will propose in their hearts and minds to be different in every sphere of life? Who says we cannot have Deborah who will lead and govern the country in all honesty, humility and fear of God. But the difference is that we had Godly parents and neighbours and society who understood that training a child was the job of everybody not  a person or individual who is called the parent.

 

Let us do it right!

 

 

 

IWUALA ONYINYE