Wiring Virtue into our Brains

Last week, we announced a new feature, Daily Virtue. This audio recording is available on the Hallow App and Openlight Media Plus. The virtues will be released in the same sequence featured in the student planners. 

You may wonder, why the same virtue for seven days? The short teaching and practice give children (and adults) one aspect to focus on for the day. Additionally, consistent teaching supports a long-held principle in education about the importance of repetition to form good habits or to learn a skill. 

The findings from the Decade of the Brain (1990-2000) provide insight into child development and reinforce the long-held wisdom of educators. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to wire and rewire itself across the lifespan, particularly in childhood. Therefore, regular and consistent exposure to what the virtues “look like” and “sound like” literally wires goodness and mental health into the brains of children and adults. 

And to expand on what I wrote last week, Jesus Christ is the perfectly virtuous man and has all the virtues. This truth reveals to us the means of living as a Christan as they are what it “looks like” and “sounds like” to be a disciple of Christ. 

Our virtue this week is responsibility. In the parable of the talents, Jesus praises the man for doubling his talents: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities” (Mt. 25:14-21). Christ’s entire life fulfilled His responsibilities, carrying out His Father’s loving plan of salvation. 

This week, go and do likewise.