The Hope Of Humanity

 

By Teacher Suksun

Child Education--The Hope of Humanity

No work is more important than the work of educating children. Parents are the early instructors who determine the future of the children in this world, for the fate of all children rests upon how their parents educate them. Their fate is ultimately the fate of all mankind. Therefore, the fate of all mankind rests upon the education of our children. The parents' role in the education of their young children is inexpressibly important. If parents virtuously educate the children under their care before sending them out into the world, they will be a good influence and beautify this world. However, when parents improperly educate their children, they go out into the world with their wicked influence and, consequently, make the world wicked.

Because the education that children receive at home determines the fate of the whole world, it is far more important than any scholastic education. If the parents of this world had educated their children well, this world would not have been so quickly destroyed by sin. Oh, we parents must quickly come to an understanding of the importance of child education and reflect upon what we have done! We must not become parents who make the irrevocable error of disorderly entrusting our children's education to others.

Let me first explain how to educate your children properly.

Do not consider educating your children to be a difficult task. We may succeed easily if we simply educate our children according to how our heavenly Father loved us, how lenient He was in forgiving us, and how at times He reprimanded us while educating us.

Begin with Prenatal Education

Some say that the education that a child receives up until the third year of age affects half the child's lifetime while the education received from the fourth to the seventh year of age affects the remainder of the child's life. Others claim that any time afterward to be a lost opportunity. It has been said that an infant is implanted with the mother's character starting from the third month of the pregnancy. Though I am not sure whether it is from the third month or even before then, the fact remains that the infant is implanted with his mother's character when in her womb. If an expectant mother is good and kind-hearted, her child will also be kind-hearted. However, if the expectant mother is deceitful and lewd, her child will also be born with the same deceitful and lewd heart; as the child matures, he will live resembling the negative aspects of his mother's character.

It is a pity such children can often be found in this world. Of course, there are instances where the parents are good and kind, yet their child does not resemble them at all, and is born with a wicked heart. However, in most cases, the characteristics of one's ancestors can be seen in their grandchildren--true to the cardinal principle that one reaps what he has sown.

Therefore, expectant mothers should follow the example of Mencius's mother, Shin Sahim Dong, and the mothers of Moses, Samuel, and Jesus in the Bible. They should prenatally rear their children with an untainted heart and pure thoughts, with beautiful songs and poems, and prayer and the words of the truth.

Teach Them Unconditional Obedience

Once born, the mother should breast-feed her child and not feed him cow's milk. Though the child may be physically healthy if he is fed cow's milk, he may not fully resemble the intelligence of a human being. Instead, his intelligence may possibly be reduced to that of a cow. The mother should pray while breast-feeding her child. She should never breast-feed when she is angry from arguing with someone or when she is having family trouble. Such breast milk will be poison to the child. It will be better not to feed him at all, since it will only be both physically and spiritually detrimental to the child. In severe cases, the baby may suffer from diarrhea, and even stomachaches.

When the child has grown up somewhat, at the time when he cannot differentiate between what is right or wrong and what is good or bad, the child should be taught unconditional obedience. For example, if you were to scold your child after he runs around yelling in a place of reverence, he would not understand why he is being scolded because he is too young. You should take him outside and spank him a few times, then tell him to kneel down and stay still, thereby teaching him unconditional obedience. When your child is young, teach him piety--how to fear and respect heaven. Then he will become a noble child like Samuel and not like the sons of Eli.

Respect Your Child's Personality

When your child has grown to be five, six years old and until he is around ten, you should never angrily yell at or scold your child immediately when he has done something wrong and needs to be punished. No matter how terrible the wrong may be, approach your child, and in the same quiet manner you usually speak in, ask your child whether what he has done is right or wrong. If you instead grow angry, yell at your child, and give him the rod, then your child will only plead for forgiveness out of fear of your angry expression and the rod, without knowing why he is being punished. Even after being given the rod, he will not know what he did wrong or how terrible his deed was, but only be instilled with fear and resentment towards his parents.

Therefore, when your child is at fault, the best method is to calmly call the child to a quiet room where no guests or neighbors are present. You should not humiliate your children in front of neighbors or guests. Never forget that when your children stand before God, they, like any other adult, will also be qualified to wear a crown as a child of God, and prize them. Parents should never disregard or injure the personality of their child just because he is theirs. Remember that the child is not your son (daughter), but God's, and always respect his (her) personality.

After calling the naughty child into a quiet room away from relatives or guests, quietly and calmly say, "John, please kneel down right here." Then, leave the child alone for twenty to thirty minutes and go about your business. Your child will spend that time reflecting on his wrongdoing repeatedly; he will deeply regret what he has done. After giving your child such a time, return to the room and quietly ask, "John, was what you did right or wrong?"

"It was wrong," he will answer in a quiet, regretful manner.

"How wrong?"

"Very."

"Then, do you think you should or should not be punished?"

He will say, "I should..." ready to burst into tears. (Or he may answer, "Please forgive me just this once.")

At this time, just as our heavenly Father leniently forgave you for your wrongs, you should also forgive your remorseful child.

"I will forgive you this time, but you must not do such a thing again, understand? Do you promise?"”

"Yes," he answers, smiling immediately.

If the mother leniently forgives her child even though he deserves to be punished, the child will follow and obey her out of sincere respect and a grateful love for her. From then on, he will not commit such a wrongdoing again. However there are some special cases where the child will repeat the same wrongdoing. When this happens, the mother should not lose her temper and yell angrily, scold the child, and give him the rod because it is his second time. Even if the child repeats his wrongdoing, the mother should use the very same method she used the first time--speaking in the same quiet and calm manner. It would be even better to speak in a quieter tone than you normally would.

"John, please go to your room and kneel down." After commanding him to do so, if he spent thirty minutes in his room last time, give him one hour this time to reflect upon his deed. After an hour has passed, approach your child in the same calm manner and ask, "What did you promise me last time?"

"That I wouldn't do it again," he answers with an anguished look.

"But why did you do it again?"

"...."

"What should we do? Do you think you should be punished this time?"

"...."

"Tell me, should or should you not be punished?"

He will say, "I should," or, "Please forgive me one more time," with tears falling from his eyes.

At this time, just as our heavenly Father has repeatedly forgiven you, you should also generously forgive your child a second time.

"John, I will forgive you one more time, but you really mustn't do it again."”Smiling, the child will look at his mother. The mother should then make another promise with him.

"If you do it again, what should we do then?”

"I must be punished then," the child will answer confidently. This is because he is sure he will never do it again.

"Then, promise me you will be given the rod if you do it a third time." (The rod is a Biblical method of education) [Prov. 13:24, 23:23, 14]

Determined never to do it again, he confidently says, "I promise," resolved to receive punishment the next time he does.

After praying hand in hand with your child, joyfully leave the room together. Now your child will obey you with sincere respect and love, more so than before. When this happens, most children become good sons who no longer disappoint their mother.

Punish Severely, Giving the Rod as Promised

In certain instances, the child may persist in doing wrong a third time even after he was admonished and forgiven out of love twice. If so, take the child to a room again and have him kneel down like the first and second time. But this time, leave him there three or four times longer than before so that he may reflect upon his wrongdoing. Then, approach him quietly and talk with him calmly.

When a child commits an offense three times, some parents lose their tempers, slap, punch, or kick their child. One thing parents should keep in mind is to never to resort to such an action. If a parent strikes the child with their hands or fists, then the child's heart will be instilled with a desire for revenge just as a boxer, burning with revenge, turns against his opponent after he has been hit. If the child is to be given the rod, then he should be struck with a rod on the calf, as it is written in the Bible. Then, the child will never nurture a desire for revenge. In addition, when the child has committed a wrong three times, or even ten times, a parent must never yell at her child angrily. She should speak to the child in the same tone of voice she always uses, or in an even more quiet and calm tone. Only then, the child will sincerely admit his wrong and conscientiously realize that he deserves to be punished for what he has done.

Quietly ask your child who is kneeling down in his room after his third offence, "John, how many times is it now?"”

"...."

"What did you promise me last time?

"...."

"What did we decide to do if you would do it a third time?"

"...."

"Why aren't you saying anything? Come on, tell me."

"That I would be punished," he quietly stammers.

"You know I don't lie. You know I always keep my promises, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then, you must be punished as promised. Do you understand?"

After he agrees to be given the rod, have your child bring it himself. While raising three of my own children, when the need to give them the rod arose, though not often, I did not bring the rod myself. My children always brought it themselves. Once the child has brought the rod with his own hands, have him also voice out the number of times he should be given the rod. Just as our heavenly Father chastises us, we should also allow our children to decide for themselves how many times they will be given the rod.

After the child rolls up his pants, quietly ask him, "How many times?"

He may say, "Once," or perhaps,“"Three times." If it is too few considering his age, have him choose again. He may choose five or even ten times. At that time, depending on the child's age, decide upon how many times he is to be given the rod. Once it has been set, it must be carried out. Most mothers, out of love and pity for their child, strike gently as they meet the number of times decided. However, doing so only causes the child to become malicious and possibly wickeder. When you do give the rod, it should be done firmly and severely, to rid him of his wicked behavior once and for all. He should be struck to the extent that his legs are bruised and bleeding (according to the Biblical method of education). The child will stamp his feet in pain. Nevertheless, as promised, meet the number of times the child is to be given the rod. Afterwards, command him to kneel down once more, and if the child is crying, tell him to stop. If he does not stop crying, hit him one last time on the head or calf and he will stop immediately.

Cover With a Blanket

As you raise your children, you will discover that they all have different personalities. Some children may be corrected by being punished or by being given the rod; others turn pale in horror, beg for mercy out of fear, and wail until they are about to faint when they see the rod. Such children should not be given the rod; they may become ill from fright or become mentally deranged. However, if they are left alone and not punished, they may lose their temper and cry for a very long time. One way to correct such children is to cover them with a blanket.

Before covering the child with a blanket, the mother should tell her child, "I will take off the blanket when you stop crying." When covering the child with a blanket, make sure the child does not suffocate by slightly lifting the bottom part of the blanket. The rest of the blanket should be held down tightly. Though the child will cry even louder at first and make a struggle, do not let the child out. Instead, repeat to the child, "I will take off the blanket when you stop crying." It is more difficult for children with such a temperament to bear suffocation. Dying from the darkness and suffocation, the child will remember his mother's words. Because the child knows that his mother always keeps her promises, he knows that he must stop crying in order to be let out. With painstaking effort, he will force himself to stop crying. As soon as he stops crying, the mother should remove the blanket and pat the rear of her child who is covered with sweat, tears, and nose drippings. She should then praise him, saying, "Oh, little John has stopped crying. Good boy!" Doing this two or three times will correct his naughty habits completely, and he will become a well-behaved child.

Bind Them with an Overflowing Love

[For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hand make whole.] (Job 5:18) [Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound.] (Isa. 30:26)

Whether after covering with a blanket or firmly giving the rod, just as our heavenly Daddy binds us up sevenfold overflowingly and comforts us with love after chastising us, we should also comfort our chastised children with love and bind them up overflowingly once their chastisement is over. After being scolded or given the rod, many children refuse to approach their parents and instead avoid them. That punishment has resulted in a complete failure, and if that is the case, you should not punish them in that manner at all. Such punishment is worse than not having punished at all--rather than reforming the child, it will push him onto a more dangerous, corrupted path. Children who have been chastised should like their parents even more afterwards, and immediately follow their mother and father with a love that is from the heart. Children who have received such a successful chastisement will turn out to be good people, and their families will be happy.

I will explain how children, after being chastised, may come to sincerely love and follow their parents more than before. The reason the child is told to kneel down after he has been punished for his wrong in so that the child who has stopped crying may be given some time to regain his composure. Once the child is composed and sitting quietly, the mother should ask him, "Did I punish you because I hate you and wanted to kill you? Or did I give you the rod because I love you and want you to become a good heavenly prince (princess) so that we can go to the new world together?"”

"Because you love me and want me to go to the new world with you."

"Have I loved you a lot or only a little until now?"”The child silently reflects upon the past. He honestly replies that his mother has loved him very much.

"You have loved me a lot," he replies. The mother should then hug her child tightly and after seating him on her lap, say, "Yes, I do love you dearly. Why must I give someone I love so much the rod? You may be able to fall asleep after being given the rod for your wrongdoing, but I cannot. Unable to sleep, I massage your swollen legs in tears while you are sleeping." "How painful it must be, all bruised like this!" she says as she strokes the bruised leg with her warm hands. Our heavenly Daddy said, ["How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy (love) is stirred."] (Hos. 11:8) Let us also not hide the love in our hearts we have for our children, but confess it to them. Though most parents love their children and ache out of love for them, instead of expressing it, they hide it. However, they should not. Not only should love be confessed between men and women or couples, but love should be expressed to your children also.

The child who is embraced in his mother's arms after being punished will realize his mother's love--how she had no choice but to give him the rod in order to take him to the new world. He will come to realize how much giving him the rod hurt his mother, so much that afterwards she massaged his legs in tears. He will forget the pain in his legs and instead feel sorry and thankful to his mother who cried and was unable to sleep because of him. His mother's love will lead him to shed tears of remorse and gratitude. At that time, the mother should lift her child onto her back and take a walk around the front yard or out on the street, saying, "Sweetheart, let's try never being punished again, okay? Why should I have to give the rod to such an adorable child like you? When you're such an adorable child, why must I? Let's try to never be punished again. Do you understand?" While repeatedly binding him up with an abundance of love and comfort, you are teaching your child about his mother's love and the limits of justice in the family. Let the child down afterwards. You will find your child following and obeying you sincerely out of love and respect, affectionately calling you, "Mother, Mother," more so than before his punishment. That kind of severity or punishment has been a complete success: your child has been delivered from his wicked sins and your family has become a happy, small heaven.

Parents Should Also Apologize To Their Children

When parents do something wrong in front of their children, they should apologize and ask for forgiveness, even if their child is only three years old. Most parents are usually strict and prompt in reprimanding their children but quietly pass over their own misconduct. Not only does that impair their character, it also disqualifies them as parents to admonish their own children. If parents have done something wrong in front of their children ten times, they should apologize and ask for forgiveness, ten times. For example, if a husband and wife quarrel in front of their children or break the family peace by yelling at each other, they should apologize to their children for what they have done wrong. The children will then follow the example of their parents and know how to honestly confess any wrongs they committed. Not only will they sincerely respect their parents, their family will also become a happy family where love and justice are enforced.

Once parents make a promise with their children, they should keep it no matter what. For example, if a parent has promised to buy something for his child, he must buy it, even if he has to borrow money from a neighbor. Only then will the child keep his promises with his parents as well. In addition, many parents, especially mothers, tell white lies to their children. For instance, before they leave for a friend's house or go to either the market or some other place, they leave their child behind, saying, "I'll be right back. Just wait a little while, okay?" even though they are planning to return home late in the afternoon or in the evening. The heartless mother then returns late in the evening. When a child has a festered sore on his skin that needs to be squeezed, some heartless mothers and fathers say, "Let's squeeze it. It won't hurt at all," and then squeeze it painfully with all their might. Moreover, others feed their child a very bitter medicine saying, "It isn't bitter at all." How great is the shock and how deep is the scar that remains in the angelic hearts of their naive children! Please think how deeply they are hurt when they find out that the only people they trusted and followed, their own parents, deceived and deluded them! Every parent should be smitten with remorse and repent of their past misconducts in front of their children and ask for their forgiveness.

Innocent children who grow up being deceived by their parents repeatedly will one day become adept in deception and delusion themselves. When they grow older, not only will they become skilled in deceiving their parents and neighbors, they may ultimately become notorious criminals in society. Then, their parents reproach them, saying, "I don't know who that kid resembles to have turned out like that!" This is unbelievable. Were they not the ones who left scars in the angelic hearts of their flawless, naive children from infancy until adulthood with their lies and deceptions? Now they blame their innocent child who has been pitifully imprisoned because of them.

Ah, how many children in this world have become victims of the wrongs of their ignorant parents? By no means should the readers of this book speak white lies as parents. If you already have, you should apologize to your children and ask for their forgiveness immediately. How can there be both malice and good intentions in a lie? Is not a lie simply a lie and the truth simply the truth? When a parent is going to the market or a friend's house knowing she will return late in the evening, she should plainly tell her waiting child that she would return late in the evening. When her child has a sore, she should say, "Sweetheart, it is better to hurt for a moment and have it heal quickly than to suffer for a long time. Try to bear with it even though it hurts. Do you understand?"”When she has to feed her child bitter medicine, she should say, "Sweetheart, even though it is bitter, it is better than being sick for a long time. Bear with it even though it is bitter and eat it, alright?" Let us raise our children in such an honest manner that our children may believe in us completely. Never forget that children are reflections of their parents. Let us try to make our home a happy family where our children can trust us and we can trust them.

Teach Children to Rely on God in Times of Distress

I raised my three children in a surrounding similar to that of the adolescent years of John the Baptist and Jesus--in a quiet area somewhat away from the world and from other neighborhoods. With plenty of sunlight and fresh air, surrounded by nature, we lived in a nice, new house I had built in rural Gyeongsang Province. Because they were not exposed to the world or other neighbors, they grew up not knowing what life was like in the world or in the city, or what sin or profanity was. Sometimes, people from the closest neighborhood would pass by our house and ask our children to use profanity.”My children would only stare at them innocently not knowing how.

We later moved to Ko-Heung, South Jeonla Province, to a newly established church that did not even have one adult among its congregation. Services were held in our house located in the middle of the village. One day, my ten-year old son raced into the house, as if he was being chased.

“"What's wrong, Sang-Chun?" I asked.”He only breathed heavily in fright, unable to speak for a while.

“"Sang-Chun, you can tell your dad at times like this. What's wrong?"

“"Jung-Sik tried to hit me."

Jung-Sik was the boy next door who was the same age as my son. Unlike Jung-Sik who was familiar with fighting, my son had grown up not knowing how to fight or even how to use profanity. Though Jung-Sik was shorter, my son was no match for him. Being chased home did not surprise me.

As a parent, what would you do if a smaller child chased your only son home? Would you rap him on the head and say, "You idiot! You were chased home because you couldn't stand up to a small kid like that? What's the point of eating a whole bowl of rice? You loser!" Or on the other hand, would you stand up for your son by running out and furiously yelling, "What brat is trying to hit my son?" at the boy who chased your innocent son home in order to hit him? Unfortunately, neither method will benefit your child. The first method will only make your son wicked and malicious. The second method will cause your child to blindly depend on his parents, always relying on you without a sense of independence.

This is what I did. I cheerfully and kindly told my son who had been chased home,“"Oh, really? Let us look in the Bible at Psalms chapter 50, verse 15 to see what God said. Look, He said, [Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.] At times like these, we should pray to God. Follow Daddy to church and let's pray to God."”After walking with my son hand in hand to church, we knelt together. I prayed, "Dear Jesus, Jung-Sik, the boy next door, chased after Sang-Chun to hit him for no reason. Please move the heart of that child; melt it so that he will not hit Sang-Chun, but instead become a nice friend who treats him kindly...Amen." In order to deal with the distress caused by Jung-Sik, my son and I offered a sincere prayer together, and left the church believing it would be answered. That evening, Sang-Chun returned home with a bright grin on his face. Upon seeing me, he said, "Daddy, you know how Jung-Sik chased after me this morning trying to hit me? Well, I went out just now, and he came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Hey Sang-Chun, let's be friends.'" He was happy to see that the prayer we had offered that morning at church had been answered.

This is how you can teach your children to go out to the living God and rely on Him at times of distress when they cannot deal with it themselves. Later, even after your child grows up, he will rely on God at times of distress like Moses and Daniel.

Be Your Child's Best Friend

As our heavenly Daddy was Abraham, Enoch, and Jesus' best friend, we should also be our children's best friends. There should not be any barriers between our children and us. You should become such a close friend that your children are not afraid to confide their secrets to you. They should be able to talk about them with you and ask for your help. For instance, when your children are dating, or when they have grown up and are dating someone they consider marrying, they should be able to discuss it with their mother and father. "Mom, would it be alright if I dated so-and-so?" Alternatively, "Dad, I'm planning to marry so-and-so. What do you think?" Parents should become so close with their children that they can discuss their problems openly with them. Then, they will not commit a vice behind their parents' backs or cause a mishap on their own. They will be able to prevent or resolve their problems by discussing them with their parents and reach the new world hand in hand with them.

While growing up, my children would bring me the letters they received, saying, "Father, I received this letter. Please see if it's alright to reply to it."”They could have replied to the letters written to them at their own discretion and secretly corresponded with them. I was so grateful to see them trusting me so much and discussing such matters with me. After reading through the letter, I would say, "She (He) seems to be a nice person. Try to associate with each other in a manner that will benefit both your faith."”In turn, they would reply, "Okay, Dad" and follow my suggestion. Ever since they were young, and to this day, I have never heard them say, "I don't want to," "I can't," or "Later," when I would have them run an errand or tell them to do something--whether it was at night or early at dawn, or on a cold, winter day. They would always answer, "Yes," and obey whatever I asked them to do.

I do not know if things will change in the future, but they are still the good, obedient children my wife and I are close with though all three have grown up and married. I hope that until the day we arrive in the new world, we will grow even closer. I thank our heavenly Father because I believe He will bind our family in love and bless us.

I hope that you will bring happiness to your families by becoming close friends with your children, even more so than my wife and I with our children. When our families become like that, the devil, our enemy, will not be able to invade our families. Such mighty families can instead topple Satan's fortresses of sin. Children should be able to respond immediately with a "Yes"”to each one of their parent's commands and obey with a sincere, willing heart while parents should become their children's best friends, encouraging one another--a small heaven overflowing with love.

There was a time when I took our children to my eldest brother's house in Choong-Cheong Province for a visit. We were living in Jeonla Province at the time and all three of them were under ten years of age, in their elementary school years. It was there that I happened to call my playing children to tell them to do something. They obeyed immediately, like soldiers heeding orders from an officer. My parents and brother called me aside and said, "Dear, it's not good to be so strict when raising children. They will grow up with a sense of inferiority and not even be able to speak in front of people. Don't be too strict with them."”It seemed as if my parents and brothers were worried that I was raising my children with a rod or club to make sure they would obey my every word, like soldiers in an army. I laughed inside.

Several years later, my mother visited our home in Jeonla Province. She saw my son hanging on my right arm and my other two younger daughters hanging on my left arm, yelling, "Dad, spin us around!"”(I was a children's playground, spinning them around and around.) Not only that, they climbed all over me, on my shoulders and back--so much that my mother watching from the living room exclaimed, "Children, you're killing your dad. Leave him alone." She was more concerned for her precious son than her grandchildren.

My mother realized that our children were not living under tyranny but under a heavenly government, and that I was not governing my family with a club but with love. It was then that all the misunderstandings were shed. Even though parents may be close friends and play with their children, once a command is given, it should be obeyed immediately. A family should be built on love, justice, and happiness. Our heavenly Father only desires that each family become a small heaven. When that is fulfilled, each small heaven will come together to form a larger heaven.

Children, Books, and Labor

Our children should only read the Bible and books written by sages who respect heaven. Many families have a set of world literature at home. Parents allow their children to read such books thinking they expand their children's dreams. That is a very grave mistake. If stories with violent knife-bearing scenes or lewd novels and magazines are likened to hard liquor, then so-called refined reading material such as world literature can be considered as wine, beer, or other types of mild liquor. When you read such literature, they seem at first to be somewhat refined books, but they gradually lead our children to forget the pleasures of God's holy, true words. They ultimately lead our children to disregard His truths--they instead become absorbed in the set of world literature. The next step will be to search for literature with stronger content, such as lewd novels and violent comic books. After our children have read them, they will practice in their lives what they have read. Led on a road of corruption, they will be doomed forever.

Therefore, the books we should be most cautious of are books that wear a mask of refinement, like that set of world literature. They are the first step that leads to the corruption and destruction of our children. We should firmly forbid our children from reading them. The god of this world mobilizes every mind under his influence to fabricate complete lies that seem to be true and publishes them under refined titles. In that way, he makes our innocent children believe such lies, become fascinated by them, and ultimately imitate them. The set of world literature is mostly filled with untruths, complete lies fabricated by its authors. What true fruits can be borne by a heart fed with falsehood? You must partake of the truth of heaven that is free of deceit in order to bear the fruits of a true heart. We should discard all those books of lies in our homes to firmly guard our families from the temptations of the god of this world.

Next, there are certain books we must shun more than a complete set of world literature. They are the religious books pouring out from corrupt religious circles. If such poisons of Babylon are purchased and mistakenly read as true religious books, one may be deceived by the scariest fallacy and become lost in wild fanaticism. We should therefore shun such false religious books and take special caution that our children do not read them.

The television is a one-eyed demon that drives not only our children but also the entire family into destruction. Television not only takes away our time to read and meditate upon God's word, it also estranges husbands from wives and parents from their children by not allowing them to hold tender conversations with each other and making them focus solely on it. A family that should be small heaven grows cold with disharmony and apathy; hearts are corrupted by the evil influences aired on it and the mind becomes lost in confusion. There is no opportunity to escape from it. We are drawn to it every day of our life, from morning until late night, eventually killing our entire family.

The computer is something more fearful than television. Computers are demons that are ten, hundred times more atrocious. Unless we educate our children thoroughly before they use them so that they will not becomes victims of the demon, they will all fall an easy prey to him. The ruthless enemy should not drag us around any longer. We should rescue our families by helping them to break free from the demon's powerful right-arm. In addition, we should teach them to read books on the computer, watch videos, or listen to cassettes that only contain the truth of heaven and are helpful to us, cautioning them against looking at anything else for even a moment.

Moreover, if you are raising your children at home, you should not allow them to just sit around reading books, no matter how helpful they are. They must be taught to research the truth of heaven and, at the same time, work physically in order to grow with a balanced body, mind, and character. Your fondness for your children should not allow them to idle their time away, thereby making them lazy children. No matter how young a child may be, give some work befitting him so that he can grow up to be a faithful and diligent child. Mother and father should take the children out to the fields. They can tell a very young child to pull out weeds from one furrow, a slightly older child three furrows, and an even older child five or ten furrows. With an amount they can handle, they may learn the joy of working. A son may chop wood with his father, or a daughter may help her mother in the kitchen. Whatever the job may be, teach them to do it faithfully and diligently.

In some families, the grown daughter does nothing but sit idly in her room browsing through magazines while her mother works until her back aches. Not only that, it is common for a grown daughter to keep company with her friends late at night and sleep over at a friend's house. In other families, the father works in the rice paddies drenched in sweat while his son sits at home playing a guitar and does nothing but demand an allowance. I cannot express how misled such families are.

All throughout history, God entrusted youth who were diligent and faithful in the small duties at home with a holy and glorious calling. Abraham, Enoch, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Joseph, David, and young Jesus were obedient to their parents from their youngest years and as youth, faithfully helped their parents with the household chores. If they had been unfaithful boys who only liked to idle their time away irresponsibly and did nothing at home while they were growing up, how could God have entrusted them with a great undertaking? That would not have been possible. If He had, such messengers would have marred their great undertaking with the same lack of responsibility and faithfulness they had at home. Therefore, in order for our children to receive the noble calling of this age for our countrymen and for mankind, they should not be allowed to idle their time lazily at home. Just like God's holy sons, they should grow up learning to work diligently when they are young. Then, heaven will joyfully acknowledge them, and not only call them for a noble work, but take them to the new world as it heirs. We should raise our children to be beautiful in the eyes of our heavenly Father.

For Children Who Have Left Their Parents and Fallen

Until now, I have explained how to raise and educate your young children. Let me conclude by explaining what to do for the children who have come of age, already left you, and gone wrong even before you knew about true child education. You cannot do much for children once they reach adulthood. You cannot take them aside and give them the rod, nor will they listen to what you tell them to do. At times like these, all we can do is turn to our heavenly Father, who has said, [With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.] (Mat. 19:26)

[Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.] (Lam. 2:19)

“"Satan," the god of this world, "has obtained control of them. He has come right in past you, while you, who are as God to them, to guard them, were at ease, stupefied, and asleep. God has commanded you to bring them (children) up in the...nurture of the Lord. However, Satan has passed right in before you and has woven strong bands around them. And yet you sleep on."

When all creation sleeps silently [...in the night...], you should [arise...at the beginning of the watches] and [cry out] for the lives of your pitiful children who have left God and even you. You should pour out your desires for your children as you would [pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.] [Lift your hands toward Him], God the Father of love, [for the life of your young children] whose souls are dying, [(fainting) from hunger], as they keep company with their evil friends and are dragged around by the god of this world to [the head of every street] (Lam. 2:19) in the wicked cities. Then, our Father who is omnipotent and full of love [shall give you the desires of your heart...Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.] (Ps. 37:4, 5)

We must borrow the almighty hands of our heavenly Father to deliver our loving children Satan has bound up tightly and drags around everywhere. Our vigorous prayers should never cease until our heavenly Father completely rescues our children with His hands. Supposedly, God surrenders to no one in the universe. However, He surrenders to someone who fully obeys His word, holds the Bible in the left hand opened to the passage where His promise is written, points to the verse with the right hand, and prays, "Dear Father, Did you not promise here, [Ask, and it will be given to you...for everyone who asks receives] (Matt. 7:7-11)? Father, I pray that You will return to me the life of my young child who is no longer with You or me. Dragged around by the wicked devil, his soul is dying, faint from hunger."”Though God is almighty and powerful, He cannot help but surrender to those children who obey Him beautifully, come to Him holding His promises, and say, "Didn't You promise here?" as they run into His arms with faith in His promises. He says, "I did. I did," and fulfills His promise abundantly, according to the request, the desire, of that child. Even though human beings are wicked, once they make a promise with their children they keep it. Then how much more so will our righteous, loving heavenly Father, who is eternally honest and does not lie, fulfill His promises. [God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?] (Num. 23:19) [Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.] (Gal. 3:15) Then, how much more so will your Father in heaven fulfill what He has promised with His own lips? [Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.] (John 16:24)

When Saint Augustine was young, he was a prodigal son. During his years of dissipation, his mother prayed for his soul holding the Bible in her left hand and pointing to the promise of the heavenly Father with her right hand. It has been said that she offered her petitions in tears until the very hour she passed away. Even after her death, the benignant heavenly Father did not forget the lifelong prayer of that lovely, obedient daughter, but treasured it. Thirty years later, not only did He deliver Augustine, He made him into a saint rarely found in this world. When that beloved daughter embraces her son on the morning of resurrection, how much tears she will shed out of gratitude to our loving heavenly Father for fulfilling her desires overflowingly!

Like Augustine's mother, let us beautifully obey Him and, holding onto His promises, quickly go out to our heavenly Father in order to redeem our lost children. Let us also vigorously and earnestly ask as she did. If by chance our children do not return to us according to our prayers and expectations, know that it is His providence, the best answer He can give, and not complain in the least. After our sincere prayers, like Jesus, we should always pray, "Do all things not according to my will, but according to Yours, Father!"”Though our heavenly Father answers our prayers according to our desires, every now and then, His best answer is not to; we should not complain just because we do not understand why. (Isa. 55:8, 9)

When we arrive in the new world, the King will not ask, "How many people have you saved through your propagation?" but "Where are the children I have entrusted to you?" Even though Noah was an incompetent leader who did not save even one person during his 120 years of evangelism, God praised him to be [righteous.] (Gen. 6:9) That was because he guarded the lives of the three children under his charge well amidst a rebellious world. Like Noah, we should also carefully protect our children in this rebellious age so that on the day our Father asks such a question, we may answer immediately, "Here are the Your children You entrusted to me," and present them to Him.

Just because I lecture about child education does not mean I have succeeded completely. However, that does not mean I have failed either. I am presently striving to succeed in child education. The only time we can say we have succeeded is when we arrive in the new world with our children by our side. Child education is not an undertaking we can be certain about; it is not something we should despair over because we never know when our children will go wrong, or when and how they might return and become a noble child like Augustine. In any case, do your best as instructed by heaven, and when it does not seem to be working, leave it up to heaven's providence. However, it will be our responsibility if our children, who could have been saved, are instead lost due to our mistakes and laziness. Let us take this extremely short, golden opportunity, and endeavor to do our best to save our children according to the way heaven has taught us.

I would like to end by telling you a heartrending story.

The police led a young condemned criminal to the execution chamber. Before carrying out the execution, one of the officers in charge of his execution approached him and asked, "Do you have any last words?" He answered, "I would like to meet my mother one last time before I die." According to this condemned criminal's last wish, his mother was hastily brought and the two were given time to talk as the officers looked on, curious to see how much the young criminal had missed his mother to request one last meeting with her. As soon as this condemned criminal in shackles saw his mother he said, "Mother, come close to me and let me suck the very breast I was fed with when I was little, one last time." His mother held out her breast for him to take into his mouth. Little by little, he placed more and more of her breast in his mouth. Then, he mercilessly bit her breast off. Within moments his mother collapsed, unconscious. The young condemned criminal then proceeded to tell the officers who were standing dumbstruck, "My mother is my enemy. She made me into a condemned criminal. Ever since I was young, growing up as a child, even though I did not want to, she forced me steal from others and commended me every time I stole. That is how I became what I am in this world today--a notorious thief and condemned criminal. Please execute me now." In tears, he was led to the execution chamber.

In conclusion, I hope that none of the parents reading this book will ever leave such a deep scar in the lives of their dear children. Thank you.

Dear loving Father,

I lost all the precious children You have entrusted to me out of my foolish mistakes. I have educated them improperly ever since they were young. Please forgive me for such a tremendous mistake. Though it is late, please hear the prayer of this son (daughter) who repents and calls out to you. Answer my prayer as You answered the prayer of Augustine's mother, and deliver my child who is dying in the streets today because of my mistake. This is my one last, sincere desire.

I pray to my loving Father who will, by all means, answer overflowingly.