One Sip at a Time.

By Cheryl Denman

I heard someone say today, concerning teaching children, that you can't take a pitcher and pour learning down their throats. We were actually talking about teaching them good Christian morals and ethics, to strengthen their personal walk. This made me think of this scenario. I envisioned a “Christian” trying to force their religious and moral beliefs on a “non-Christian”, or for that fact, anyone else that is not thinking in the same line as they are. For example, a parent and a child; a teacher and a child; a husband and a wife; the list goes on. If you were to fill and pitcher and try to pour its contents down someone's throat you will have little success. In the natural, you will have spitting, spewing and coughing, probably resulting in either throwing up or maybe death. That is how it is when we try to force our ideas, morals and religious beliefs on someone else. We fill our pitcher full and try pouring it down their throats. The result is regurgitation by the recipient. They want to fight what we are trying to give them. We could possibly even cause a spiritual death in which they die to any concept of a relationship with God. We cannot force our beliefs on someone else. But, if you give them a sip every now and then you can nourish them and possibly make them want more. Every time you think they might be a little thirsty give them a sip. Show them through your walk and talk. Encourage them in love. Make them want what you have. The same thing probably holds true in raising our children. If we give them a little instruction at a time it could possibly be better received than if we try to cram a lot in at one time. We want them to be well received by society so we push them to be sweet, thoughtful, smart, cute and athletically fit. When instead, we should be letting them learn from us and we lead them, not push them. So, the next time you want to make someone ‘see it your way' you might try giving it to them one sip at a time.