Being a parent is more than changing diapers or handing out money.

It is providing God”™s word through your actions to your child(ren). Whether your child is yours by birth, adoption, or marriage; whether your child is one year old, 20 years old, 40 years old or even 60 years old ““ you are still a parent. You are still an influence of some kind to your child. Your beliefs, your “˜walk with the Lord”™ on a daily basis will impact your child”™s life.

How often have you heard (or even said) that there was no preparation for bringing up your child? Doesn”™t it start with your personal beliefs of what God says? Isn”™t the Holy Bible the place to start searching out how to be godly parents? You may think “it”™s too late”. You can still impact your child”™s life, your grandchildren and great grandchildren by your prayers for them. Be an encouragement by studying the Bible for yourself, and then encourage them to go to God”™ word for themselves.

Joseph and Mary would be responsible to give Jesus parental guidance and nurture. And they began when He was a baby.

(NASB) Luke 2:22-24 “And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

This couple honored God”™s word and presented their first-born Son as “˜holy to the Lord”™. In His case, He not only was set apart as holy, He was the Holy God. Immanuel, God with us.

Christian nurture of a child should begin at birth and is the responsibility of both parents. Your presentation of your child to the Lord is for His influence in the life of your child.

What will you begin to do today to be a godly parent?