Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6
My parents raised six children—four sons and two daughters. My mother had one primary ambition in life: she wanted each of us to go to Heaven. She knew that we each had a different personality, and she dealt with us and let the Lord work with us accordingly.
Out of the six of us, no two followed the same pattern. My oldest brother began to follow the Lord when he was about four years old. Now, at eighty-five, he has followed Jesus for over eighty years. My oldest sister had some physical and developmental problems, but she had the ability to pray and pray through, something I always envied. When she left this world, there was no doubt that she had a place in Heaven. Two other brothers struggled most of their lives, but finally left a message that they had made their peace with God.
What I remember best, of course, was the way my mother dealt with me. I saw the beauty of salvation and understood my need to be saved, but felt that step could come later. First, I wanted to try the world and its excitement. Mom would look me right in the face, call me by name, and say with force, “You need to get right with God!” I am glad that I was still young when I turned to Jesus and got right with Him.
My younger sister was talented both as a vocal soloist and a violinist. She did not stand very well in a spiritual sense and at length left God out of her life. This caused much sadness, but also caused many prayers to be prayed for her. A few years before her death, her niece talked her into going to an old-fashioned camp meeting. I’ll never forget the scene as she went forward and knelt to pray. Many friends and family members gathered around her, and God saved her! For the next several years until her death, she testified often and stood like a rock for our Lord.
Thank God for Christian parents. Thank God that one day at a time, they taught their children how to live for God. May each of us follow their example as we interact with those of the next generation!