You’ve heard people say, "She has her mother’s eyes," or "He’s a chip off the old block." Most of us are just familiar enough with genetics to understand that features such as hair, eye color, height, and certain personality traits can be passed down from generation to generation. But what about something as nebulous as "spirituality?" Is it possible to pass on a belief in God? Is it possible to inherit "godly" traits or Christian beliefs? It seems parents can pass down negative traits, such as substance abuse, violence, and racism, etc. What about a Christian belief system?

Psychologists specializing in childhood development suggest that there is a critical period, between birth and six years of age, when children are most susceptible to learning and developing their personalities. Call it the hard wiring phase, if you will. During this early development, children are like sponges, absorbing anything and everything around them—both good and bad. This is the most crucial time for spiritual development because the parent is seen by the child as all knowing and all powerful. Parents are the only "god" children know, until they are introduced to the real God of the universe.

Parents have a huge, and often daunting responsibility. They are to provide their children with the lessons and tools that will help them develop a sense of spirituality, including a belief system that establishes their identity—they and everything in the universe were created by God and have purpose.

God has provided instruction for parents on how to pass down spirituality to their offspring. Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:6, and Ephesians 6:4, outline what is expected of a parent. The underlying theme in these texts is that parents are to teach and nurture their children by providing what is good for them. This suggests more than providing basic physiological needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. They are to pass on their faith so their children can come to know Jesus as a friend and Savior.

Parents create the spiritual foundation their children can use as a springboard to develop a more sound and mature spiritual connection with the Divine Creator. This becomes especially important as children enter adolescence and young adulthood.

Child development experts suggest that a new critical period occurs during adolescent growth—one that is not only physical and emotional, but also spiritual.

During this stage of development, young people face many challenges that impact their spirituality. They have one foot stuck in childhood, while the other foot is rushing to get to adulthood. At this time parents need to remember Solomon's counsel in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Notice that Solomon did not say "and when he is old he will have lived a perfect life." Nor did he say, "she will not make bad decisions," or "she will not stray from the path you set when she was a child." What Solomon is saying is that when you do what God instructed you to do, and teach your children about Him, He will make sure that they never forget it. God provides assurance for parents who pass down spirituality and Christian beliefs to their children. I am a witness that God keeps His promises.

My personal testimony demonstrates that God comes through for parents who instill spirituality in their children. I am the son of a minister. I was raised from day one to believe in all that God is. My parents provided me all things necessary for a safe and happy childhood. They followed God’s directive to teach Christian values to my brothers, my sister, and me.

But, as I entered my late adolescent/young adult years, I became rebellious and strayed far from the spiritual teachings of my parents. Many years went by as I continued to live contrary to what my parents instilled in me, and contrary to what pleased God. My parents were concerned about my lifestyle, of course, but more importantly they were worried about my soul salvation.

They discovered you cannot force a grown man to come to his senses, so my parents did what they knew to do—they continued to follow God’s blueprint for raising children. My parents loved me unconditionally. They also presented me to God in prayer, daily. They were counting on God’s promise that if they did their part, He would do His.

During my young adulthood, I did all that I could to forget what my parents had taught me. There were many rough spots along the way. At no time, however, was I ever able to shake the memory verses that I learned in Sabbath School. There was never a time I could sleep calmly after I once again went against the principles of my upbringing. Even when I was afraid to pray, I knew that they were praying for me.

There were many situations that I should not have survived, but I have. That’s what having praying parents will do. Today, God has blessed me with the opportunity to enjoy a much better life than the one I so anxiously rushed off to seek as a "prodigal" son.

My belief in God is stronger now than any time in my life. My prayer life is what gets me through each day and keeps me connected to God from week to week. The compassion I now bring to my job as a psychologist stems directly from the compassion God showed me on my worst days of rebellion against Him.

I am far from perfect. As the words of Aunt Eleanor's song say, "I Have a Long Way to Go to Be Like My Lord."1 Yet I am so thankful I am back on track, knowing that one day I will embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This would not be possible if I did not have Christian parents committed to instilling spiritual values in their children.

Thanks, mom and dad, for loving me enough to present me before the Lord the moment I opened my eyes—and again each day of my life.

H. Jean Wright, II, is the son of Walter Wright, Lake Union Conference president, and his wife Jackie. Jean has earned his doctoral degree in psychology and works with young people for the City of Philadelphia as a clinical and forensic psychologist.

1 "I Have a Long Way to Go to Be Like My Lord," ______________, copyrighted ______, Eleanor Wright.