Training

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart (turn away) from it. Prov. 22:6

I found out that my nephew is in jail today. He has committed several crimes, including burglary and drugs. It is so very sad to see this young man wasting his life! He doesn't even know his father but is following in his footsteps.
This has caused me to think a lot about parenting and the concept of generational curses. Curse is a strange sounding title but the concept is a good one.
A family member recently asked me how I know my son won't grow up to do all the bad things that his father (when very young) and uncles had done. After all they were raised with different "standards" than they followed. I thought a lot about that and have concluded that "standards" are irrelevant.
Telling a child that something is right or wrong is not the same as training them. Telling them what you believe is not training them. Taking them to church is not training them.
Training is what you do day after day, EVERY day, by your companionship, constant example and conversation. Satan will have influence over them EVERY time that he can, through their friends, teachers, neighbors,pictures, TV, music,what they see at the mall and any other possible way. To train a child requires that we influence them MUCH more than any other influences -all combined! In order to do that we must be with them the most, talk to them the most and show them the most. This is impossible to do as a part time parent with your child in public school and is the reason that so many well intentioned Christians watch their children "turn away" and end up on a path to curses, misery and hell.
There is no greater heartache than losing a child and therefore no greater calling than training them.

Deut. 11:18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.


Deu 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.


Deu 11:20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:


Deu 11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.