The Unfolding Life: A Study of Development with Reference to Religious TrainingLamoreaux, Antoinette Abernethy
Religion
The Unfolding Life: A Study of Development with Reference to Religious Training
Lamoreaux, Antoinette Abernethy
Child development; Child psychology; Religious education
Common sense would recognize the absurdity of attempting to awaken
anger by saying to a group of happy children, "Be angry." But why is
the absurdity not equally apparent in saying, "Be loving," "Be sorry,"
"Be reverent?" Yet this is a method on which countless teachers and
parents place their dependence. Suppose, for instance, reverence be the
feeling desired; a thought of God's greatness and power and holiness
must be given. If, to the sensitive soul of the child, the teacher bring
the story of Sinai, or the story of Majestic Power as it is set forth in
the 104th Psalm, or the glory of the Heavenly throne with the adoring
multitudes, following with the words, softly sung,
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of Thee,
Heaven and earth are praising Thee,
Oh Lord, most high."
the result will be true reverence.
2. Suggestion is a most effective way of conveying these impressions.
Instead of saying to the child, "This is the thought you should have,
and this is what you should feel, and this is what you ought to do," he
is allowed to draw meanings and have feelings of his own, for then they
are genuinely a part of his soul, not something foisted upon him.
But even though the application is not made, nurture will consciously
present impressions intended to suggest certain feelings. The Sunday
School lesson, the missionary story, the visit to the poor family, the
song carefully selected, all fall in this class. Special mention should
be made of the great effect upon the child in making attractive in
another, the feeling desired for him. A single incident will illustrate
this: A frightened little candidate for the Beginners' Class and his
stern mother stood one Sunday morning before the Primary superintendent.
"He's got to stay in here by himself today," she said; "I won't have
such nonsense. Look at him, with his first trousers on! I'm ashamed of
him!" The superintendent did look and saw the new trousers, and in them
the trembling little body, and a soul speechless with terror at facing
for the first time, alone, the unknown experience of a great world, even
though it was enclosed in four walls. There was no trace of relenting
in the mother's face, and any plea for pity was useless. But the new
trousers gave a possible key to the situation. "Why, so he has new
trousers on!" the superintendent said. "I want to see them," and very
thoroughly and enthusiastically they were inspected. "I didn't know that
he was so nearly a man that he could wear trousers instead of dresses. I
am sure he will stay alone today because men do and are not at all
afraid." She waited. Gradually the little head lifted as the thought of
bravery began to make its appeal. He put his hand into the hand of the
superintendent, and without hesitation started on the perilous journey
across the room to the Beginners' section, where no punishment could
have driven him a few moments earlier, and proud and heroic sat by
himself through the hour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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