What do we do with this?

I heard some statistics about Charleston, WV and the surrounding area this week that really bothered me. I am not sure what to do with them.

> There are 22 active gangs in and around the Charleston, WV area;
> Last year, Sissonville, WV was the 3rd largest meth producing community in terms of total volume (not related to per capita);
>Every day there is a student victim of a random, intentional act of violence;
>There are 3 schools that operate under “lockdown”.

I believe the soundest advice for raising children is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This was given to the people of Israel as a way to be obedient to God for the long haul.

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

What if we did this today? Would the world be any different? Would parents parent differently? Would children behave and obey differently? Would there be less violence, gangs, and substance abuse among our children?

I am reminded of a poem that always hung on the wall of my house while I was growing up. I try to remember it as I am raising my own children.

Children Learn What They Live

By Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism,

They learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,

They learn to fight.

If children live with ridicule,

They learn to be shy.

If children live with shame,

They learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement,

They learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance,

They learn to be patient.

If children live with praise,

They learn to appreciate.

If children live with acceptance,

They learn to love.

If children live with approval,

They learn to like themselves.

If children live with honesty,

They learn truthfulness.

If children live with security,

They learn to have faith in themselves and others.

If children live with friendliness,

They learn the world is a nice place in which to live.