Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton
Those who are raising kids are to give them the instruction and guidance needed so when they are adults themselves they can be productive citizens. King Solomon was the wisest person of all times including the present time. In the Book of Proverbs 22:6 it instructs parents to “Train up a child in the way they are to go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” It becomes the adults obligation to do this training to their own kids; or the kids in their care. It is not the responsibility of the schools or church. Hopefully the three can work together, but often they are on opposing teams.
Working with families and children for almost 30 years I have heard many times a parent make the horrific statement that they will never teach their kids about “religion” or spirituality that they will let them decide that on their own. In saying that you might as well say that you are teaching them the ways of the world and how to be stunted in their faith. The Bible teaches that all is given a measure of faith and we all have a free will choice on what we place our faith in. Some do trust in God. Others put their faith in “religion,” or people, or money, fame, popularity, or just in their own selves.
Proverbs 6:20-22 reads, “My child, keep your father’s command and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you.” If you have ever had a dog on a leash you should understand the importance of these verses. The purpose of a leash is to keep the dog with you. While on the leash a dog has boundaries and the “master” has control because the master knows where the dog can and cannot go or needs to be.
Until the dog is trained, if it gets off the leash it will more than likely go places and get into things that otherwise it would have been saved from if it still had the leash bound about its neck. In the same way a child growing up needs boundaries, rules, and guidelines to go by. The “world” will teach anything that is not of God because that is what that means. If it is not the Word of God, then it is of the world that opposes God. As your children have grown up, how often have they heard you speak of God, read your Bible, pray out loud, or attend a worship service?
As they leave the nest we all want our kids to be successful, but ultimately it will not really matter what their GPA was, how popular they may have been, what college they attend, or career they have if they never know their true purpose given to them by their Creator. Their Creator and yours gave you the responsibility to guide them in His ways. Worldly things are temporary but our spirits within us are eternal. A thought to think is when they leave home how well trained will they be?
TRS originally written for The Wayne Weekly 6-12-22
Rays of Hope 