Children are sponges! They soak up everything that is happening around them and process it into their schema. This is called incidental learning.
Recently I enjoyed some Mexican food while listening to a passionate audiologist share with me principles of childhood learning and language development.
I actually took away a deep spiritual lesson.
We were talking about all kinds of things! We touched on language learning milestones, how fluid build-up affects language learning, and the importance of just talking to babies about what is happening during everyday actions to help them with acquisition. But when she discussed pediatric hearing aids, I actually took away a deep spiritual lesson.
Repent and be saved.
Without repentance of sins, there can be no heaven. This truth isn’t reserved for only the “worst” sinners, but for ALL sinners – all who love sin to the point that they no longer have Godly sorrow that leads them to change (repent) and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10).
There are different settings
There are different settings on hearing aids that allow you to focus on different things. (So they tell me. I am just a minister!) There are settings to focus on a specific target. Maybe you’re in a restaurant and you need to focus on the person you are speaking with. You can adjust it to make that happen. But there are also settings for you to take in everything that is happening around you. This is the setting that they leave it on for children.
Timothy...observed and applied.
Children are sponges! They soak up everything that is happening around them and process it into their schema. This is called incidental learning. They are taking things in and learning by chance, whether you mean for them to or not! If they are unable to do this, they will be hindered in their development of language, social skills, etc.
When I think about Lois and Eunice passing their faith to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5), I usually think of it being targeted and intentional. The truth is that most of it was probably incidental. Timothy observed how these women of faith operated in his life and picked up their habits and skills. While there was certainly intentional practices, we should assume that Timothy developed just like every other human child. He observed and applied.
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What are you teaching
But also realize this— adults can do the same thing. We observe and learn behaviors. We take on the characteristics of those who surround us. The adage that you are the average of the five closest people to you is because of what you observe and apply. Please don’t forget this fact.
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You are teaching people, and you may not even realize it. Since people are observing us, we need to make the most of every opportunity to influence others for Christ! Choose love. Choose joy. Choose encouragement. Choose patience. Build others up around you. Listen to them. Be present with them. Choose the behaviors that you want done to you and that you want to see around you. People of all ages are observing and applying around you. What are you teaching them?
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