Oscar Hammerstein wrote some lyrics about the process of passing on our sins to our children:
You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught from year to year.
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear.
You’ve got to be carefully taught.
You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late --
Before you’re six or seven or eight --
To hate all the people your relatives hate.
You’ve got to be carefully taught.
Parents, we need to be intentional in teaching our children at least three things. First, honesty. Most of us know how we lie to others, but we don’t know how we lie to ourselves. Let our children learn to be honest, both with themselves and with others. Second, let our children learn to love truth. If our children learn to love truth, they will not be too much hampered by prejudice. Third, courage. There can be no inner serenity in our lives if they are run by fear.