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Ongoing Training

Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.

—Proverbs 22:6

We may look at this verse as one that reminds us to discipline children so that they will grow emotionally and faithfully strong and healthy. Indeed, that is something to be taken to heart, but what else is involved with training besides discipline? What else can we give our children so that when they grow older, they will pass along the things we’ve taught them?

When we consider the kind of love God has for us, it’s hard to imagine how we can parent in a way that reflects his desires for our good. The truth is, we raise our children desiring more than anything that they grow up strong in the Lord, true to themselves, and humanitarian in their approaches to others. We want them to be kind and giving and generous to those around them—to their “neighbor,” whether that means next door, in the office, across town, or wherever they engage with others.

The good news is we’re all in training. We train our children and then they train their children if they have their own families as well as others. And even as we all grow older, God continues to train each of us. We’re his children always, and so our training doesn’t end no matter what age we might be. We’re always learning more of what God wants from us and training to become the best we can be just for him.

Be disciplined by growing in kindness and generosity.

IN THE QUIET OF THE DAY

Lord, keep training me, because I have a lot to learn. Thank you for your patience and enduring kindness to me. I couldn’t be where I am without you. Amen.