Our oldest daughter, Lisa, was preparing to get married, and I found myself doing things I don't normally do. I paid for stuff I wouldn't otherwise buy. I grew interested in things I don't care much about: decorations, catering, candles.
And I reflected. As I thought back on the 22 years that had gone into the preparation for the big day, a couple of things stood out.
The first was the wonder of it all. Just the other day (it seems) my little girl had ringlets in her hair as a preschool mascot for the basketball team I coached. Now she was a high school music teacher about to become the wife of a youth pastor.
The second thing that stood out was the thrill of knowing she had made it this far by God's instruction. She had learned what it is "to be taught by the Lord," as Isaiah put it (54:13). Only God could have touched her heart to receive salvation. Only the Holy Spirit could direct her in the right paths. Only God's teaching is flawless.
No matter how much we strive to prepare our children for life, none of it matters without "the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). Whether we're preparing them for kindergarten or for a wedding, that's the basis for training that will last a lifetime. — Dave Branon
Oh, teach God's Word to these your precious ones,
For guidance tell your daughters and your sons
Of One who loves them even more than you,
And He will be their Guide a lifetime through. --Anon.
Train up a child in the way he should go, but make sure you go that way yourself.