Update

I Now Have a Book Available for Purchase!!!

picture of book title

First of all, I hope you like the new look of Train Up The Child.  I have added a Media page and a Helpful Links page, plus other tweaks all around the site.  I hope you will take some time to explore it.

In addition to my updated site, my children have encouraged me to complete and publish a manuscript I began 37 years ago.  How Shall We Order The Child? is a short ebook that shares my passion for establishing God’s Word in children starting from the very beginning of the child’s life.

I am thankful for the help and support my children have given me in making this book possible.  I am so excited to make it available as a downloadable ebook at My Books page.  I have another book in progress as well that will be available in the coming months.

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Training Moms in Uganda

I had the privilege of speaking to moms in several villages in Uganda last week. Uganda has the 2nd highest fertility rate in the world – 6.65 children born/woman.  What do you say to them about training their children spiritually when the physical needs of clothing, shelter, and food are so overwhelming?   Elaine Moody spoke before me and told the ladies about how everyone of us must relate to God with our spirits (John 4:24)
This led right into my speaking to them about training their children’s spirits to be sensitive to God.

I shared with them about Samson’s parents who asked how to order their son and the only instruction given was what the mother was to eat during pregnancy.  This led us to examine the fact that there are 9 fruit of the spirit and 9 months of pregnancy.  Meditating on one fruit of the spirit each month and praying that fruit for your unborn child can help his spirit grow as his little body grows. (see previous blog post on this subject)

I told them that Deuteronomy 6 instructs us to teach our children as we lie down, as we rise up, and as we go.  I showed them pictures of things they might see, hear, taste, touch, and smell.  I sang songs they could sing with their children to remind the children that God has given them the senses to enjoy His beautiful world.  I told them to involve all their senses in helping their children learn about God.

I don’t know how much the moms took away from the time we had together.  I can only pray they caught the passion to train their children’s spirits to relate to Christ . . . for He is our only hope whether we live in a well-built home in America or a mud-brick home in Uganda.



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Why God Made Dogs

Yesterday we said goodbye to our loving dog, Molly.  She has been a stable part of our family for 14 years in our sometimes not-so-stable journey.  Just 1 year and 4 months ago we had to say goodbye to another faithful dog, Goldie. (http://www.trainupthechild.org/2009/12/07/when-a-pet-dies/ This is the first time in 29 years the Daws family has not had a dog!

Our friend, Steve, made this comment yesterday, “I think one of the reasons God gave us dogs (I mean besides cleaning up our spills) is to show us how to lay at your Master’s feet, enjoying simply being in His presence and then showing unconditional love (i.e. crazy, uncontrollable tail waggin’) when you hear His voice.  Here’s to Molly – role model.”

I love that analogy of our relationship to God.   As I grieve the loss of Molly’s unconditional love and tail waggin’ each time we called her name or came into her presence, I hope to be reminded of how God feels when I am not fulfilling the role I was created for –  ” to glorify and enjoy Him forever”.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made all things for Himself

1 Tim. 6:17 . . .  God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

God made Molly for Himself,  but He gave her to us for 14 years to enjoy.  Thank you, God, for sharing!

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“Jesus loves the little children – all the children of the world”

I just got home from my second trip to La Romano, Dominican Republic.  Last year I visited an orphanage there and met a girl named Dalia who touched my heart.  We took coloring pages for the children to have.  Dalia immediately started coloring hers and wrote her name and my name on it and then gave it to me.    I kept it and I have prayed for her off and on all year.

When I walked through the gate this year she ran up immediately and latched on to me.  I showed her the page she had given me last year, which put a big smile on her face.  She then proceeded to make me another picture and write “I love you” on it.  Also, I was delighted to see that she and her friend had remembered the song I sang to them last year about Jesus.

Dalia clung to me during the short visit we had at the orphanage.  When it was time to leave, she asked someone who spoke English to ask me when I was coming back and told me to come back pronto!  Unfortunately I couldn’t make her any promises.  She walked me to the gate and had the most forlorn look on her face when we left;  it was so hard to say goodbye.

I was told that some of those children still have parents who could come back to get them when they are old enough to make them money by prostituting.   I don’t know Dalia’s past nor her future, but God does.  I don’t know how I can help her, but God loves her more than I could ever love her.  But my heart hurts – I will continue to pray for her.

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