{":Train A Child:"} (156 hits)

LIKE ALL THE OTHER PROVERBS,

THIS ONE OFFERS A WISE PRINCIPLE TO EMBRACE,

NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THOSE WHO FOLLOW IT WILL GET PREDICTABLE RESULTS EVERY TIME.

NO PARENT,

REGARDLESS OF DEDICATION OR SKILL,

CAN CONTROL A CHILD'S EVERY MOVE.

ALL INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN INCLUDED,

ARE GIVEN FREEDOM BY GOD

TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT HOW THEY USE THEIR WILL.

EVEN IF PARENTS COULD CONTROL A CHILD'S BEHAVIOR,

THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE COURSE OF HIS OR HER HIDDEN THOUGHTS.

STILL,

PARENTS ARE GIVEN A MANDATE TO EXERT STRONG POSITIVE INFLUENCE OVER THEIR CHILDREN.

THE WORD TRAIN IN THIS VERSE INCLUDES A HEBREW CONNECTION OF "DEDICATE."

PARENTS ARE TO THROW THEMSELVES WHOLEHEARTEDLY INTO THE TASK OF RAISING THEIR CHILDREN.

PARENTS CAN'T FIX OR CONTROL EVERYTHING AND EVERY SITUATION INVOLVING THEIR CHILDREN.

BUT THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE HOLDS TRUE:

PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SHAPE THEIR CHILDREN'S WILLS

AND TO DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN IN GOD'S WAYS

SO THEY WILL KNOW THE TRUTH

AND BE EQUIPPED TO MAKE WISE CHOICES THROUGHOUT LIFE.

Pr 22:6



Sayings Of The Wise:

PAY attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;

APPLY YOUR HEART TO WHAT HE TEACH,

FOR IT IS PLEASING WHEN YOU KEEP THEM IN YOUR HEART

AND HAVE ALL OF THEM READY ON YOUR LIPS.

So that your trust may be in the lord,

He teach you today, even you.

Pr 22:17-19
Posted By: Judith A. Birt
Saturday, October 18th 2008 at 12:53PM
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