One of the Bible verses that is held onto tightly by many parents, particularly if their children become wayward, is this proverb by Solomon:
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
A lot of parents take this verse to mean that if Mom and Dad do everything right, then the children will live godly lives. As one writer puts it, "This interpretation misunderstands the nature of the Proverbs. The Proverbs state general principles, not promises. If we put "in most cases" in front of verses like this one, we accurately state this meaning."
Like many, I would like to think of this proverb as a rock-hard promise, but observation and personal experience has taught me that our children have minds of their own and they make choices which determine whether or not they accept and follow our faith. To see our child that has been "raised right" turn away from God as an adult could make us doubt ourselves as parents. Did we do something wrong? What could we have done differently?
Parent - do your best to be the loving, godly Mom or Dad you ought to be, but realize that we are never totally to blame nor should we receive all the credit when it comes to how our children turn out. However, if you have a child who has wandered off the right path, don't give up on them. Commit them to prayer and ask God to do what only He can. Many a "prodigal son" has come to their senses and returned to the Father!
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