LightGrams
May 8, 2025
Volume 29, Number 16
Holly LaFavers of Lexington, Kentucky was not prepared for what was on her doorstep in late April of this year. There on her porch were 30 cases of Dum-Dum lollipops, each containing 2,340 suckers. The order was from Amazon, and the invoice with the order showed that $4,200 was owed.
Holly knew she had not made such an order, but who had? It didn’t take long to find that her son Liam was the culprit. He had been playing with her smartphone when he secretly placed the order. Obviously, Liam, a student in second grade, likes lollipops!
The mother spent most of the day trying to return the unwanted items. At first Amazon agreed to take back only eight cases, leading the frantic mom to call friends and neighbors to try to sell what would be left over. Later in the day Amazon agreed to do a full refund. There is no word in the United Press article about the price young Liam will have to pay.
I’ve seen other stories of merchandise ordered by children without their parents’ knowledge. But what concerns me more are what children are apt to see on the Internet without their parents’ knowledge. Unwanted orders can eventually be returned or repaid, but what can be done to restore a child’s pure mind. As someone once said, “There are things you can’t un-see.”
The Lord has given a mandate to parents on how to raise their children: “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). This echoes what had been said hundreds of years earlier in Deuteronomy 6:6.7: “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children …” Show children the right path in life by teaching them God’s word.
Many, however, are so busy with other matters that they often leave their children unsupervised. When that’s combined with powerful technology, trouble is often the result. Proverbs 29:15 was written long before phones or Internet, but its advice is timely: “… a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” He may even order 70,000 lollipops! Or worse.
A young man in the life of the apostle Paul turned out very well. What was Timothy’s secret? “… the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). How did he develop their genuine faith? “… from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). Timothy’s mother and grandmother took time to teach him God’s word.
Technology, like the world in general, can offer good things to children. But they need close and loving supervision. Above all else, they need to hear and see the love of God in their parents.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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