Sunday, June 17, 2018
Train up a child
As fathers, we have a responsibility to teach our children correct principles. If we do, we will equip them for the time when they have children of their own.
Some have asked, why does this passage say our children "will not depart from" the things we teach them? Are we depriving them of their agency by teaching them the Gospel or other things we believe to be true? I don't think so. However, I do believe that it means when we teach our children the Gospel, it will stay with them, even if they wander away from it. The choice will need to be their own, but the opportunity to return will always be open to them if we do our duty as parents and teach them by word and by example.
Happy Father's Day!
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The passage doesn't say "he will never depart from it". It says "when he is older, he will not depart from it." Setting a good example leads to good consequences, but not the same consequences all the time. That includes with whatever children we may have.
ReplyDeleteI know I've at times departed from what I was taught...quite...a lot. But I learned. And I learned again and again. And now I'm better...mostly. But I try, and that means I get better all the time.