What we learn as children stays with us for life. Church leaders have long said that the first years of a child's life are vital in who they will become. It is very hard to go against those early lessons whether those lessons are positive or negative.

A child abandoned young will feel unloved for life no matter what happens later. Unless he sees a strong reason to change that belief it remains part of who he is. Even then, the basic belief will color all future views of life and human interaction. A person raised with particular beliefs, even though the person later turns their back on those beliefs, is still of a mind-set that is very difficult to break.

The influence of parents on young children remains in some form for life. Whether those early effects are good or bad is the choice of the parent. The child has a very hard time changing those early values. Thinking our actions do not affect others is a lie Satan would like us to believe.