Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Training involves purposeful, consistent, and diligent actions. But one research project found, on average, fathers in America spend five minutes or less each day talking with their children.
God has a plan to train children as He intended. Teaching our kids starts with a foundation of love. All people, especially the young, desperately need to feel accepted, loved, and valued. If they don’t find validation at home, they’ll look elsewhere. Children need to hear their parents say things like, “I love you,” “I value you,” and “You have what it takes.”
A second part of training a child involves the parent’s relationship with God. We can’t share what we don’t have. A person’s relationship with Jesus must be real and exciting. Otherwise, it’ll be impossible to teach others about how to have intimacy with the Lord.
You can use two effective training tools with children. The first one is your testimony. Share what God is doing in your life. The second tool is your example. A powerful lesson is driven home when a child sees his parent admitting fault, asking for forgiveness, or expressing gratitude for God’s mercy. The stakes are high. If we disobey the Lord and fail to teach our little ones correctly, we make them vulnerable to the world’s teaching. Not only does this harm our precious children; it also hinders the next generation.
I think kids definitely need to be told they’re loved. They also need to be shown it.
Another way of doing this is to teach them critical thinking skills and to allow them to make up their own minds about religion, without indoctrinating them none stop.
You can tell and show your children love without religion. Many, many people are good without god.
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One odd thing about that proverb I did not catch right away that is important, but certain translations bring it out.
Proverbs 22:6 Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Because parental instruction must be fitted to the child, parents must spend sufficient time with their children to understand their needs.
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This is quite philosophical and yet, most accurate, Tom.
I believe, too, that all spiritual needs of a child are prescribed in, and of, scripture. A Christian parent must be omniscient of scripture and instruct accordingly. Bearing in mine, of course, there is but one true church and thusly one true teaching.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you, Tom. And, may he bless yours as well.
Yours in Christ;
Michael
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