Memory Banks

Psalm 127:3 (ESV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb a reward.

Did you have a piggy bank when you were a kid? Perhaps you saved spare change or gifts from the tooth fairy with the goal of buying the latest comic book or the toy you saw during Saturday morning cartoons. You had to have that coveted item!

Pastor Charles Swindoll says,

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."

Just like that piggy bank from long ago, we make deposits into a much more valuable place—into the lives of children.

As a child, Chuck Swindoll suffered with stuttering so severely that when he started high school, he could hardly finish a sentence. Chuck was self-conscious about his speech impediment and learned to stay quiet. A drama teacher named Dick Nieme found Chuck at his locker one day and asked him to be on the debate team. Of course, Chuck declined, but the teacher wouldn’t take no for an answer. Starting the very next week, the two met early each morning for speech therapy sessions. Gradually, Chuck learned to pace his thoughts and concentrate on starting the words he wanted to say. Because of that instruction, Chuck became effective on the debate team and in school dramas. As an adult, he became a successful Christian broadcaster heard on over 2000 stations and an inspirational preacher. Many consider Chuck Swindoll to be one of the most influential preachers of the last 50 years. He credits his drama teacher Dick Nieme for seeing his potential and investing in him!

Our verse today reminds us that we are to pour into the lives of children. We are called to invest in teaching our children God’s Word for it will make them “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

You can have an impact on a child’s life. Will they remember that you saw them as a heritage from the Lord, a blessing from God, and a person of immeasurable worth? Or do you send the message that they are a burden or inconvenience? Tell children often that they are a divine gift.

What are you storing in your children’s memory banks?

Dear Lord, we thank You for the piggy banks that You give to us. Help us to make good deposits into them each and every day. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.