It Could Be Life or Death

©Millie McNabb

What a difference a few letters make! There is an instance in Judges 12:6 where the difference in how a man pronounced “Shibboleth” versus “Sibboleth” was a matter of life or death.

Most language mistakes don’t have a consequence that is that significant. We chuckle over the pronunciation of our city name by people out of the area. We see spelling errors on signs almost daily, but are still able to understand the meaning.

One of my daughters who started in public school was getting A’s in reading. When we started homeschooling, I discovered that she could not read. She was first-letter decoding. For example, if she saw a word that started with a “w” she’d fill in window, or whale, or wheel—any word that started with a “w.” At school, she was reading aloud in groups, so she knew the context, and used the correct words.

I was chagrined that I was oblivious to the situation, and grateful that God brought it to my attention and gave me an opportunity to correct it. Being oblivious to what our children are learning may seem insignificant; more likely, it could be a matter of life and death.

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Request your free report “Considerations for Intentionally Raising Children to Become Christian Adults” today at www.ChristianValuesLegacy.com.