by Jeri Johnson
A The Kids & Me Contributor
Next month my son and his family will be spending two weeks with me. My son and daughter-in-law will both be working their regular jobs on their respective computers. It will be my job to keep my grandchildren entertained. I asked my daughter-in-law about specific places my grandchildren would like to go. She gave several suggestions, but she also said that since the pandemic, the children had learned to spend extended periods of time entertaining themselves. Therein lies the problem.
Our children spend time on their computers and tablets, often without the supervision of their parents. Many parents neglect to put in safeguards to protect their children from harmful websites. And even though they may put safeguards on their child's computers, they cannot ensure that those guards are there when their children are in the homes of their friends. In addition, since acts of violence are common in our communities and schools, we often put emphasis on our children's physical safety while neglecting their emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
We need to cover our children daily in prayer. We need to ask God to give them the discernment to distinguish those people and places that are not good for their spiritual development. And as we pray for our children, we should pray for ourselves. As we know, we can willfully be disobedient to God's word just like our children. I am reminded of the song that was written many years ago by David Norman Anfield. It is called "O Be Careful Little Eyes'":
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see.
Photo from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7vApixaPw
The rest of the verses of that song say be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little tongue what you say, be careful little hands what you do, be careful little feet where you go, be careful little heart who you trust, and be careful little mind what you think. Let us not only teach these words to our children, but let us also adhere to those words ourselves.