It is a old saying, i used to hear, when i was a little child, when older black christian women would gather around and talk. " if i can remember, it went something like this: "Honey, when they are young, they are hanging around your knees, but when they get older, they are hanging, on your heart"!
My mother used to cry and pray, while talking to me. She would call my name, with tears in her eyes, and say; I'm praying for you and you "worry me", You ride that "Motorcycle", I told her, Mama, you keep on praying, and I am going keep on riding." And when that car hit me Head on No breaking at all! As i laid sprawled across that "highway" all of my clothes and leather torn from off of my body. I knew i was dying in that street My flesh on my leg rolled down like like a scroll, could not cry, just "pant'. I call his name, I felt like a Angel of God cover me with a blanket, and it comfort me. I going to stop there for a reason to get to a point. I did not get "born from above" then. but it started me on a about face movement. A movement of Repentance That accident happen in "1972" and i do not mean that i started to go to a church! Because i didn't trust those "hypocrites"! I felt more love and care in the world. But i was changing in the world but changing no one knew, but i did,. then in "1977" i was "born from above" and Filled with the "Holy Ghost"! and still on "FIRE"!
You cannot make your child a Child of God, Many want our children to act like one, so we train them or try to train them to act like one. 'It will not work" i know.
We must remember, our "children" are not lost when they stray away from our teachings. They are "sinners" born sinners. A sinner is never lost, they are sinners and never lost. If we claim they are lost, then lost from what. This is a hard saying, They are not born Christians, just because you taught them to be christians, does not make them a christian.
Just like they where born into your family, and they had nothing to do with it. They have to be Born into the Family of God, at God's proper time. They have nothing to do with it. Now that hurts! we must realize, God is still working on us, as all of this is transpiring. "TRUST ME"! And it hurts! Must of our children are still in the dark and have not come to "Birth". So that pain is the same pain that many of us share, that tear, many of us share, the worried nights, many of us share, and not like the world shares for their own, our pain runs a lot deeper, than the world could ever know about our children that has not come to birth. We have to "Trust Him"! Lord Jesus, help us to Trust you, no matter what happens" For you know what you are doing.
Only a true child of God can get lost and stray away, and return back unto the fold. How can a person be lost if they where never "Born". from Above' := "Born from Above"=: "Born of God". a "Spiritual Birth" "Hard Truths" that many cannot except. and here is a "Jewel" "and they were "chosen before the foundation of the world"! 'Trust Him"
(1 Corinthians 2).
11For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
12But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words .
14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
And if you are a christian, and asking a question, or wondering, or feel you need to address the above text of "Holy Scripture" in a form as: 'now what does that mean' or feel you need to interpret, that which is written, it is not meant for you, speaking in kindness
My defense; "I'm just a fool for Christ" and a fool, might just do or say, just anything".
And i do hope, there are some more fools out there, just like me, even greater! Even your SONS and Daughters!