Trinity Lutheran Church Blog

When it comes to our children, we spare no expense in time or money to get them involved in activities that we think will give them an edge in life. This is good if we keep things balanced. Just like eating, we need to make sure that our kids learn how to eat a balanced diet and not just gorge on junk food that will ultimately harm their health in the long run. The foundation that is laid in childhood is the foundation upon which their life will be built, one year at a time.  If it is solid and firm, then the life they build upon that foundation will most likely be solid. A poor foundation will not hold up as the years pass and will eventually crumble and collapse.

In the mixture of providing a well-rounded, healthy, and balanced foundation, a spiritual or faith aspect must be present. It must start early and remain constant as the child grows and matures.

A 5-year- old girl was sitting on her mother’s lap, enjoying a time of quiet conversation. Her mother prayed with her child, read her Bible stories each evening, and took her to worship services frequently – so it wasn’t surprising when the girl asked, “Mom, does God live in your heart?”

The mother smiled and nodded.

Wanting to find out more, the girl asked, “Can I listen?” Her mother laughed as the daughter placed her head against her chest. Suddenly the little girl’s eyes widened, and she jerked her head away.

“Did you hear anything?” the mother asked.

“I did!” the daughter exclaimed. “God was making coffee!”

Observant parents soon understand that a child, like an adult, is a spiritual being. Every child has the capacity for a personal relationship with Him. A child can learn to see life through spiritual eyes and apply truth to his or her beliefs and choices. The earlier this foundation is laid, the more likely the child is to thrive during adulthood.

A strong spiritual foundation is essential for healthy children, families and society. Children who have a healthy spiritual foundation grow up knowing they are loved by their Creator, who has endowed them with unique gifts, talents and abilities.

When children have a personal connection with God and know what the Bible says about them, they are better equipped to accurately assess their abilities and live life to the fullest. In contrast, the failure to establish a healthy spiritual foundation can be a recipe for disaster. A child who hasn’t been shown how to have a personal relationship with God is at a huge disadvantage. He will struggle to figure out life and his place in it. Such a child may not realize how special each person is to the Creator and may fail to develop a healthy respect for all human life.

According to psychologist Andrew Weaver, spiritual and cultural experience is linked to children’s behavior and development. He concludes that a spiritual foundation helps to buffer children from the poisons of culture. Religious belief among children has many healthy outcomes, including reduced suicide attempts, less depression, better response to trauma and less substance abuse.

A healthy spiritual foundation in the life of a child is paramount to their growth and development.

At Trinity, we want to partner with you to provide some of the spiritual building blocks for laying the firm foundation of faith for your child. TLC Preschool, Trinity’s Sunday School, Confirmation classes, youth Bible study, Vacation Bible School, and a Kids worship time are some of the venues available to assist you, as parents, in nurturing spiritually healthy kids. We are also planning to provide special speaker forums to give you the tools you need as godly parents.

Have a great rest of the summer.

In His Grip,

Filed under: Messages from Pastor Kittel