Train Up a Child

In the book of Proverbs, it says “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Did you notice it says train up not raise up? We raise dogs but train children. We give dogs love, food, water and shelter and that’s great but children require so much more. They need to feel safe, loved and valuable. They need to know who God is and what place He has in their life. God told the Israelites to obey His Words but then He took it a little further. In Deuteronomy 6, it says “ You shall teach them (His Words) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” It’s easier to build strong children than repair broken men. We build children by speaking words of life both over them and to them. Children need to know that God loves them unconditionally. Whether it’s good or bad, children get their idea of who God is by watching you. They need to hear they’re special, smart, loved, funny, kind; well, you get the picture. Whatever you want to see develop in them, begin to speak those words over them. Encourage them every chance you get. I read somewhere that inside every man is a fool and a king. Speak to the one you want to get stronger. Every day of your life, you will have opportunity to speak into the generation behind you and that includes your own children and grandchildren. But what about young clerks in a store? Waitresses? Your next door neighbors? Children in church? Never miss an opportunity to build a child! You could be the very one who keeps them from becoming broken.