Our children will be impressed.

One way or another, an impression will be made on their lives. This is certain. From a very early age a child’s very character and belief system begins to be formed. Experts agree that we can even make an impression on a baby while the child is still in the womb. Every experience plays a part in forming their character, their belief system, who they are and who they will become. This leaves a huge responsibility on our shoulders as parents, grandparents, and guardians of these young and very impressionable children. It is largely up to us to help form and direct their lives. Good thing we have an “owner’s manual” that gives us step-by-step directions how to do it! This “owner’s manual” I speak of is real and relevant and easily read. It covers every situation and predicament. Almost every home in America already has one. It was authored by One who loves us and knows each of us intimately. The manual is the Bible. God is very specific in his word as to how we are to raise our children.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

I remember when my husband and I had our first child. We were a very young couple, only married 11 months when Brandon came into our lives. What a joy and a blessing to have our very own baby, a little one to love and to raise. Ah, but therein lies the challenge! To raise and how to raise was the question. We wanted to do our very best to raise our son the best way possible. We knew the best way would be God’s way. So we began to do our research. We went to our pastor for counsel and he took us to God’s word, of course. We expected nothing less. So our journey began, our journey to raise up this little one according to God’s word. A daunting task, not easily done, but we decided to give it our best! We owed it to our son and we wanted to be obedient to our God.

There are so many thoughts on raising a child, so many beliefs, ideas and the such, that today, raising a child can be very confusing. However, if we “stick” to God’s way, the path becomes straight and clear.

Proverbs 2:6 says,” For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

The Bible also tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

Really, God has given us everything we need to be able to accomplish this task, including a lot of grace! No, none of us will be the perfect parent/guardian, but with God’s help, and we will need his help, we can raise Godly children, through a lot of hard work and even more prayer, who will love and serve him and make a difference in this world for Christ’s sake. Remember God’s mandate to the Israelites. This mandate is for us today as well: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Yes, we must impress the children in our lives with the word of God! If we want God’s blessing to be on our children, on our children’s children and so on, we must teach them of who this God of the Bible is. We must teach them his commands, his truths, the word of God.