Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
When Scripture speaks of “the way,” it is speaking about direction, formation, and legacy. Proverbs 22:6 is not simply a parenting tip. It is a generational assignment.
To “train up” means to dedicate, to initiate, to shape intentionally. It implies repetition, consistency, and modeling. Children are not primarily shaped by what we say. They are shaped by what we live. The way we walk becomes the way they follow.
Denice and I have learned that training our children in the way of the Lord is not built on big moments alone. It’s built on daily decisions. Sometimes it’s as simple as the last bite of cake we’ve been looking forward to all day. We’ve both had those moments. Long day. Finally sitting down. One last bite left. And one of the kids asks for it. In that small moment, we have a choice. Protect our preference, or model selfless love. Other times it’s much bigger.
It’s showing up at recitals after a full workday when you’re exhausted. It’s helping with algebra homework when you haven’t solved an equation since middle school. It’s leading your family through difficult seasons when your own heart is carrying weight. There have been days when I’ve had to lead with strength while quietly asking God for strength myself. Days when ambition had to bow to assignment. Days when comfort had to bow to calling.
Training up a child in the way he should go means choosing to serve your family over your own convenience. It means modeling humility, repentance, prayer, and faith when it costs something. Our children are not just watching how we succeed. They are watching how we sacrifice. The Way is not taught in theory. It is demonstrated in love.
Jesus showed us this. He did not simply instruct from a distance. He gave Himself. If we want our sons and daughters to walk in The Way, they must see it lived out through us. The promise in Proverbs 22:6 is not about control. It is about trajectory. Seeds planted in truth, watered with consistency, and covered in prayer do not disappear. They take root. And in due season, they bear fruit.
As we prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day, let us remember that the greatest legacy we leave is not success, but surrender.
Today, ask yourself:
What “way” are those closest to me learning from my life?
My prayer is our homes become places where faith is not just spoken, but seen. Where love is not just declared, but demonstrated. Where the next generation rises not because we demanded it, but because we modeled it.
Let us train them in The Way.
Prayer:
Father, give us grace to lead our families with patience and strength. Help us choose love over preference, service over self, and obedience over ambition. Plant Your Word deeply in the hearts of our children. Let what we model today become a legacy of faith tomorrow.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor DJ Bagwell
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