What if, in spite of your best efforts, one of your children says that he does not want to serve Jehovah? Do not conclude that you have failed as a parent. Jehovah has given all of us- including your child-the gift of free will, the ability to choose whether we will serve God or not. If your child has decided to leave Jehovah, do not give up hope that one day he will return. Remember the illustration of the lost son. (Luke 25:11-19, 22-24) That young man strayed far off the path of righeousness, but in the end, he retured. "That was an illustration," some may say. Can it happen in real life?" Indeed it can! In fact, that was the experience of a young man named Elie.
Regarding his parents, Elie says: "They did their best to instill inme a love for Jehovah and his Word, the Bible. In my teen years, however, I began to rebel." Elie started living a double life, and he rejected his parents' efforts to help him spiritually. After he left hom, he got inovlved in wrong conduct. Even so, at times he had Bible discussions with one of his friends. Elie notes: "The more I spoke about Jehovah to my friend,the more I found myself thinking about Jehovah. Slowly but surely, the seeds of Bible truth that were dormant in my heart-seed that my parents tried hard to plant -began to grow." In time, Elie came back to the truth. Imagine how glad his parents were that they had tried to teach him from an early age to love Jehovah! - 2 TIMOTHY 3:14, 15.
Parents, you have beeng granted a wonderful privilege, namely, to raise a new generation of worshippers of Jehovah. (Pslam 78:4-6) That is no small task, and we commend you most sincerely for your tireless efforts to help your children! If you continue to do your best to help your children to love Jehovah and bring them up in his discipline and admonitionm you can be sure that our loving heavenly Father will be pleased. - EPHESIANS 6:4.
Next time: Practicing Bible Principles in the Home
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