Davidisms - Raise Up a Child According to His Bent

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6) This often-quoted Scripture is sometimes misinterpreted. “The way he should go,” does not necessarily mean obedience. Though that’s a nice result. The Hebrew meaning for the phrase, “The way he should go,” refers to a child’s particular “bent.” Bent means their interests. Desires. Passions. What then is our primary job as parents? Find our kids’ interests, desires, and passions. Help them in every possible way to pursue their dreams. How God has wired them. Their God-given individual bent. For example, my kids each had a different bent. Bethany loved languages and learning. David loved sports and basketball. Michael loved sports and swimming. We helped them pursue their passions accordingly. Marilynn and I are convinced that it’s because we helped them find the gifts Jesus put in them that they all love Jesus so much now. It’s why our job as parents is to raise our children according to their bent. And watch what God will do in and through their lives thereafter.