Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)

Last night as we were leaving the church parking lot after children’s choir, my daughter saw a bumper sticker on the back of a car. She read it out loud: 3 nails + 1 cross = 4gvn. She said to me, “Mommy, what do they mean?” I said, “Well, honey, they are referring to the three nails that were driven into each of Jesus’ hands and His feet when He was nailed to the cross. Because of His death and sacrifice, we are forgiven.” She then said, “They used nails?” I said, “Yes, honey, they used nails. Jesus suffered horribly. Before they nailed Him to the cross, they beat Him, they spit on Him, they placed a crown of thorns on His head. All of that happened before He was ever nailed to the cross. Nailing Him to the cross was what constituted crucifixion. That’s what it meant to be crucified.” She didn’t say anything else, and I pondered our conversation the remainder of the drive home.

Sometimes I wonder if she understands. I don’t think she does. I realize she is only six, and we all have to be wooed by the Holy Spirit. It’s in God’s timing, not my own. Still, I have a responsibility to teach her all that I can as often as I can. I admit, I fall down on the job. I get tired. I get busy. Sometimes it just seems like a lot of effort. But, how much effort is my daughter’s salvation worth?

I remember one time hearing my pastor say that WE are the one’s who need to lead our children to Christ. Don’t leave it to the Sunday School teacher, or the Children’s Minister, or the Youth Pastor. He’s right. I want to have the privilege of praying with my daughter to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Ultimately, her salvation is the most important thing, and if she prays somewhere else with someone else, that’s okay…as long as she makes the decision at some point. Still, God has entrusted this child to me, and He holds me responsible for teaching her His ways. I pray for His help to be adequate to the task.