Mom's Blog - He is faithful!!

Train up a child in the way he should go, or the way he is bent.  Do not try to re-bend him in a direction of your own choosing.

When Steven was small he showed obvious tenderness toward all living things.  It was painful to him to kill even a bug.  We knew we had some training to do in this area to balance his views–for instance, crop damage caused by bug infestation.  I began in earnest.  We had some ants invading our home and I asked my obedient young child to help mommy kill the little pests.   He made a horribly mean face and stomped the invaders to death!  Immediately I knew this was not good for him.  I was remolding him–bending him in a direction not of God’s design.  He would obey me, but with undesirable consequences.  The look in his young face frightened me.  I could create a mini monster!

Steven is manly.  He enjoys sports, weight lifting and wood work.  He is good at home improvements, web design and math.  He likes to play stringed instruments, write music and sing in groups.  Today Steven is still tender toward animals but he gladly kills mosquitoes!  He doesn’t hunt.  Someone convinced him that fishing is painless to fish, so he takes his brothers fishing.

I have seen parents try to make a left handed child use her right hand, but with disastrous results.  I have seen parents try to make a tenderhearted young man calloused.  I didn’t like what I saw.  Our Savior was a tender, compassionate he-man.  What wimp could have stayed on that cross?

God has created individuals.  Train up your child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.