from father to son (and mother to sons!)

In my bible 2 Timothy 3:10-17 is titled, "Paul's charge to Timothy".  As I read it I am struck by the kind of father-son relationship Paul and Timothy had.  This morning my prayer time was focused mainly on my three children, and on asking God to make me and Chip the kind of parents He wants us to be.  Paul says to Timothy, his son in the faith:

"you know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance...

Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."  

So many children grow up and leave their parents' home, and reject their parents' faith as well.  Many studies have been done to discover the cause, and one answer surfaces most frequently.  It is the apparent disconnect between what parents say they believe and how they live their lives.  I pray that God will help me to live a life of pure devotion to the Lord, in which I earnestly seek Him daily, and then live out my day in response to the truth He has shown me. 

May my words and actions be consistent, and may they reflect the character and grace of God.  And 10-12 years from now, as my sons are ready to leave their parents' home, may they cling to their faith in Jesus even more than Chip and I have.  Chip and I really want to be able to say to our sons, "you know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith , patience, love and endurance.  So continue in what you have learned."