Children trust easily and believe the words of their parents, guardians, teachers and leaders. When adults make promises and fail to keep them, it can break the hearts of children and weaken their trust.
The Bible teaches Christians to be truthful and faithful in everything they say. In the book of Matthew, Jesus taught that our “Yes” should be "Yes" and our “No” should be “No”.This means that people should speak honestly and keep their word.
In many Nigerian homes, parents sometimes promise children gifts, outings, school support or special time together but most times they don't fulfil them. While life can be difficult because of financial struggles and daily challenges, adults should be careful not to make promises what they cannot fulfill.
A child may never forget a broken promise. Keeping promises helps children grow with confidence, love and respect for others. It also teaches them to become trustworthy adults in the future.
The Bible also shows us that God keeps His promises. From the days of Abraham to the coming of Jesus Christ, God remained faithful. Christians are expected to follow this example in their daily lives especially in the way they treat children.
A simple promise like attending a child’s school event or buying a needed book may seem small to an adult but it can mean the whole world to a child.
Keeping promises to children builds strong families, peaceful homes and a better society.
When children see adults keeping their word, they learn that honesty matters and that love is shown not only through words but also through actions.