Renaissance

" A true Christian must be no slave to fashion, if he would train his children for heaven. He must not be content to do things merely because they are the custom of the world; to teach them and instruct them in certain ways, merely because it is usual; to allow them to read books of a questionable sort, merely because everybody else reads them; to let them form habits of a doubtful tendency, merely because they are habits of the day. He must train with an eye to his childrens' souls.

He must not be ashamed to hear his training called singular and strange. What if it is? The time is short,-the fashion of this world passeth away. He that has trained his children for heaven, rather than for earth,-for God, rather than for man,--he is the parent that will be called wise at last."

--J.C.Ryle

A book I am reading by J.C. Ryle, The Duties of Parents, is full of gems just like this. Though written in the 1800's, it is incredibly relevant for today. Proves the adage, there is nothing new under the sun.

I have been devouring this book recently, like the many other times I have taken it from our shelves and yet: each time it is opened, I am given more encouragement, more wisdom, and more biblical truths revealed to me. If you are a parent, you ought to read this book.

And not just once.