Deuteronomy 11:18-19 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We are forgetful people. There are things and memories we think will never disappear. But sometimes it takes only one generation for things we take for granted to become unfamiliar.

I was reminded of this reality recently as I babysat four of my grandchildren while their parents were in the hospital welcoming their baby sister.

We had a wonderful time together doing all the things that children 8 and under like to do. As they became familiar with my home, 8-year-old Ruby grabbed a newspaper from the counter. She opened it up and asked, “Nana, what is this huge piece of paper for?”

I was shocked. How could she not know what a newspaper is?

But on second thought, it made sense. This generation is not growing up with physical newspapers anymore. Most families get their news online or from the TV. Children don’t often experience newsprint on their hands or read articles printed in columns on wide sheets of paper.

I explained what a newspaper was, and she was intrigued. I know she liked it because after going home, she called and asked if I would save the papers for her after we were done with them. She wanted to read the comics in the back.

This experience reminded me of why teaching children about God is so important. As adults, we have lived life and seen God’s goodness, but our children haven’t experienced many of those things firsthand. They may not even know the stories of our faith journey unless we tell them.

In Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the Israelites to love the LORD their God and keep His commandments. He reminded them that their children had not personally witnessed God’s mighty works, including the signs He performed to bring them out of Egypt.

The next generation needed to hear about what God had done.

Moses instructed the Israelites to fix God’s words in their hearts and minds and teach them to their children. They were to talk about them throughout the day, at home, when traveling, when lying down, and when getting up.

Teaching children about God wasn’t supposed to be limited to special occasions. It was to be part of everyday life.

When Ruby and I talked about the newspaper, she discovered something unfamiliar and realized she liked it. How much greater is the opportunity for our children to hear about all the LORD has done for us and what His Word says about how He wants us to live.

What children are in your life? Why not sit with them, look into their eyes, and tell them about what God has done for you? It may be the best gift you could ever give them.

I’m now saving my old newspapers for Ruby. But more importantly, I pray she will remember our conversations about the LORD.

May we faithfully pass His truth on!