The question is sometimes asked, "When should we begin to take our children to the meetings?" Our answer to this is, "Begin at once." Children should be brought up to expect to go to the meetings; they should see their parents faithful in attendance. If the parents carelessly neglect "the assembling . . . together" (Heb. 10:25), then they may expect the children to consider that it is of little importance. In the days of King Jehoshaphat, we read, "And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children" (2 Chron. 20:13).
It is indeed a beautiful sight when the father, mother, growing children, and even the babe in arms are found making their way together to the remembrance meeting, gospel meeting, and other meetings of the assembly. We recognize that there are certain limitations in the health and strength of the parents and the children at times, but we are speaking of a general principle and of what is desirable.
Some children learn very easily that they are to be quiet during the meetings, and others learn with great difficulty_ sometimes with considerable trouble to the parents. We have known of some parents who went together to their knees and sought the Lord’s special help each time before they left for the meeting. It takes wisdom and patience to persevere until the children learn how to behave at such times. It may also require patience and understanding on the part of others while the parents seek to train the children. Usually it is only for a short time for each child, so let the parents take courage and bring the children to the meetings, seeking the Lord’s help in dealing with the problem of keeping them quiet. If on occasion a child makes too much disturbance it should be taken out, but let not the parents give up.
Some mothers take time out each day to sing and read with then- children while the little ones have to sit still and be quiet. Others see to it that the children are trained in being quiet during the daily family reading.
As the small children grow up they should be taught to listen to what is said in the meetings, and not be encouraged to carelessness by having other things to occupy them. It is to be deplored when children old enough to understand what is said, or at least a part of it, are given drawing books and other such objects to distract them. Sometimes children who should be drinking in a solemn gospel message and taking it to heart are present in body only while their minds are on something else brought in with them.
After the children start going to school the temptation often arises to keep them home from the midweek prayer meeting and maybe even the Sunday evening gospel meeting on the grounds that they have lessons to prepare for school or they have to go to bed early to be fresh for school the next day. We suggest that with a bit of foresight by the parents, the children’s activities can generally be ordered so that the school lessons are completed prior to the time of the meeting and sometimes even a short nap worked in if lack of sleep is really a problem. Children are not likely to suffer a breakdown in health or get poor grades in school because their parents take them to meetings on or two evenings each week.
May the Lord, then, encourage parents to be faithful in taking their children to the meetings of the assembly. There will be much blessing, we believe, for both the parents and the children if this is done.