Some parents say, “We will not influence our children in making choices and decisions in matters of religion.”  Why not?
 We can rest assured that the ads in all the media will try to influence our children.  So will the movies, the neighbors, and their friends.  We use our influence over flowers, vegetables, and friends.  She we ignore our own children?  May God forgive us if we do.
 There’s really no such thing as a perfect family.  But if there were, it would include family members like the following Bible personalities:

· Fathers like Abraham.  “He will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord” (Gen. 18:19).

· Mothers like Hannah.  Hannah declared that “as long as he (her son) liveth, he shall be lent to the Lord”  (1 Sam. 1:28).

· Boys like Jesus:  He returned with His parents to Nazareth “and was subject unto them” (Luke 2:51).

· Girls like the one who told her mistress that God would heal Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:3).

· Brothers like Nehemiah and Hanani, who served God together (Neh. 7:2).

· Sisters like Mary and Martha, who received Jesus into their home and into their hearts (Luke 10:38-39).
 

Ethan Trout