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Family lore tells us that one time my parents were discussing some matter of grave importance while traveling down the road. One of them remembered that they were not alone and said, “Little pitchers have big ears.” A little voice from the back seat, where my sister was playing with her dolls, piped up saying, “I have big ears!”

One never knows when a child is listening.  One never knows what message is being picked up by “little pitchers”. Our actions, our attitudes, our words – they all reach the ears and eyes of the children around us.  What an awesome responsibility we face as parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and every other category of person who interacts with a child.  Jesus Himself warned against causing the little ones to stumble.

And what does it mean to make them “stumble”?  Does it not mean to put them in a situation in which they are caused to sin?  When a child follows his father’s example and begins to lie – who is to blame?  When a child finds his father’s stash of pornography – who is to blame?  When a child follows her mother’s example and disrespects her father – who is to blame? In each case, the first blame falls up on the adult – because they are older and should know better and give an example of how to live.

How do you want the children around you to live?  If your son or daughter followed your life’s example – how would you feel about them? Would you be happy to see your son or your daughter living like you do? Are you showing them a healthy way of living or are you leading them into temptation?

Little pitchers have big ears.  It behooves us not to break them.