Train Em Up!

Many of us have learned so much of what we know and do by watching our parents. Most of us learn how to parent by the way our parents parented us. Some of us grew up realizing that when we did wrong, we got punished (if we got caught). It’s so easy to notice and point out the negative and wrong behaviors of a child. All the while forgetting to teach and guide in the right direction. As a parent, we may think that no bad behavior is good behavior, but I don’t think that’s always the case. When I left home at 18, I knew many things that I wasn’t supposed to do, but I really had no direction. All of the sudden, on my own without a parent to correct and guide me the way I should go. Parents typically know the correct way to act, but just telling a kiddo what not to do, doesn’t guide them into their adulthood. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Notice this verse doesn’t say: “teach your children what not to do, and when they are old they will take the right path.” How would they even recognize the correct road if they’ve never seen it? I’ve heard it said that If we don’t teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them how not to. Which makes we wonder; Who is training my child? Me, being lead by The Holy Spirit (hopefully), or the world? Personally, I’ve been very consistent at correcting the wrong behaviors, but too often forgetting to praise, encourage, and train them up in the way they should go. 

So, let’s get out that training manual (our Bible) and start Training!