“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
A very familiar (to our family) verse – and very true. I’ve quite often said that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. But how much better our lives would be if we all started off on the right path, not having to struggle through and learn from our mistakes.
With my current back situation, if I want to have a more “pain less” day, I need to begin my day with the routine exercises provided by my physiotherapist. It has become very evident to me that how I begin my day, has a tremendous impact on how the rest of the day goes and feels. Knowing that those exercises influence the days outcome, my desire to stay on that path trumps my desire to sleep in and skip the routine required.
So how much more important is it for us as parents to start, direct, train, and point our children towards the path that they ought to go! The consistent impressions we make during their childhood days is what will remain with them. We are to train them not in the way they want to go, but in the way they should go. Thereby creating and securing habitual walking that leads them to the Saviour.
Lock Your Wings 
So many nuggets in this passage:
“The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.”
Proverbs 22:2 NLT
Makes me think of Covid and how no matter how rich or poor you are, you can’t buy your way out of it. We are all humans and our capacities are limited but not by our wealth or lack of it but by what our Creator has planned for us.
“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
Proverbs 22:3 NLT
Again, thinking of Covid, there is faith that God can protect us from this virus but there is also knowing that we are responsible for doing our part not to become infected.
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
Proverbs 22:6 NLT
As you said, our job as parents is so important so that our kids know the right path and they’re taught it well.
“Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,”
Proverbs 22:24 NLT
Interesting that we are advised not to associate with people with short tempers. It’s true we become like the company we keep…so not just angry but also the lazy, gossips, and foul language people too unless we want to be like them
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Good takeaway!
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