Ituro sa bata ang daang dapat niyang lakaran, at hanggang sa paglaki’y di niya ito malilimutan.

Mga Kawikaan 22:6

How can parents raise successful children? Is the promise in Proverbs 22:6 the key to our children’s success? But why is it that there are children who grow up rebellious kahit tinuturuan naman sila na gumawa nang tama? Ginagabayan sa tamang landas, but they still take the wrong path. They have been taught the Word of God, yet they still leave the faith when they’re old enough to decide for themselves.

Children are great imitators. Everything they see, especially what their parents do, they imitate. Kaya mahalaga for parents to walk the talk. There are stories of children who were raised well. Tulad ng nangyari kina Joe. 

Joe is the eldest among seven siblings. He said that because of poverty, grade five lamang ang natapos ng kanilang ama. Binuhay sila nito sa pagsasaka, pangingisda, at construction work. They saw how their mother loved, respected, and supported their father. Nangarap ang ama ng magandang buhay para sa kanila. In their young minds, he instilled the importance of education to become successful in life. Dahil sa pagmamahal at gabay ng magulang, the siblings studied hard. They also helped their parents eke out a living for the family. Pero kinakapos pa rin sila, kaya nag-abroad ang ama and worked as a foreman in construction company in the Middle East. He workedextra jobs to augment his income. As he journeyed a life of hardship abroad, he depended on God’s comfort and peace. His sacrifice bore fruit. Napagtapos ng collegeang lahat ng mga anak, na ngayon ay may kanya-kanyang pamilya na. They all look up to Jesus, the source of their success, who said in John 10:10b (ESV), “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”