Tuesday, August 26, 2008


The following quote is by Plato, he is referring to the art displayed in the city, but the application for today extends much further.
"We would not have our guardians (children), grow up amid images of moral deformity, as in some noxious pasture, and there browse and feed upon many a baneful herb and flower day by day, little by little, until they silently gather a festering mass of corruption in their own soul. Let our artists rather be those who are gifted to discern the true nature of the beautiful and graceful; then will our youth dwell in a land of health, amid fair sights and sounds, and receive the good in everything; and beauty, the effluence of fair works, shall flow into the eye and ear like a health-giving breeze from a purer region, and insensibly draw the soul from earliest years into likeness, and sympathy with the beauty of reason."
I especially like the last line that the child's soul will insensibly be drawn into likeness and sympathy with the beauty of reason. I think children that are taught to appreciate the good influences of music, art, movies, as well as good and Godly counsel, will grow to naturally repel the corrupt, and have a far greater advantage in resisting soul corrupting influences. Parenting is a pro-active vocation. Bedtime stories, conversation, watching inspiring movies, exposing them to beauty in all its forms are simple investments into our children that will earn them great interest.
Photo by Paula Grenside

4 comments:

Unknown said...

That quote (which I am stealing) is perfect for the movie "Bella", which I saw last night...you MUST see that movie....and maybe watch the special features to hear their inspiration and vision behind making it.

Mel said...

I am looking forward to seeing "Bella" and "War Dance." Last night we watched the movie "Nim's Island" as a family, and everyone enjoyed it, even the little ones.

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to read emails to them. There are so many eye-opening, heart-stirring emails floating around these days. Everytime I get one, I forward it home with the note "Read to kids" in the subject line. Even though they come without fancy covers and illustrations, the kids really seem to enjoy hearing them. Even after I've read ten or so, they keep asking for more. Maybe someday someone will compile them into a book. :)

Bless you, Fred!

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello Fred!

Very simple but very informative and useful post. Your remarks are very valuable in moulding children to become good human beings.

It is a pity that many parents are not able to do the simple things which you have advocated because both are working and have no time for their children. In many cases children are left alone or in the hands of servants. Very often children fall into bad company because there is no one to guide them in the right direction.

Hope many working parents will read your post and understand the seriousness of bringing up their
children with love, care and good instruction.

Thanks for this excellent post!

Best wishes!

FCB said...

Yes, I did see it, and I agree, it was a moving show on so many levels. Left me in tears. There have been some great movies out there and this is a good one to have teens watch.

Emails for kids, don't they love 'em. And Mel you are right, there are so many floating around.
I also use emails in place of most face to face lectures with my grankids. I pick a story that illustrates a point and send them the email. They will greedily drink it in and I get no attitude, or glazed eye look. I include pictures in some of them as well. I guess the next thing I have to learn is texting, have mercy.

Hi Joseph, thanks for your comments as well. It is a difficult task to rear children in our fast paced world, but if child rearing is seen as God's first priority in ministry we will find grace to do better. It is easy to say as a grandfather, but I stuggled like all when my children were young. We need more books on how to make child rearing fun, for both children and parents. Hopefully in some of the posts there will be fodder.

God bless.