From the Amplified Bible, a far better translation from the Hebrew text:
"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it."
If you have a child that loves and is good at playing the piano, encourage him along those lines. Don't insist on making him a football player because it is your bent.
VERY good parental advice. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard the story "My parents wanted me to be a Doctor, and I changed my major to [XYZ] because I hated it so much.", or the number of kids in football programs I've been part of that just obviously hated the game and were playing for there parents sake, etc.
Encourage your kids down a path they like and are bent towards and they will do that for a lifetime.
"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it."
If you have a child that loves and is good at playing the piano, encourage him along those lines. Don't insist on making him a football player because it is your bent.
VERY good parental advice. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard the story "My parents wanted me to be a Doctor, and I changed my major to [XYZ] because I hated it so much.", or the number of kids in football programs I've been part of that just obviously hated the game and were playing for there parents sake, etc.
Encourage your kids down a path they like and are bent towards and they will do that for a lifetime.
