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Proverbs 22:6 states, "Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older he will remain upon it." Do you see that verse as a "promise" or as a general statement of fact?

Frankly, I was amazed when things began to go wrong in the lives of some of my own children. I had never questioned their following on in the faith, just as I and my brothers (I have no sisters) had followed along in the teaching from the Word and the convictions of our parents. Now that these things have happened, I can look back and see mistakes I made which, if I had not made them, might have significantly helped the children in following the Lord. However, regardless of the mistakes, during the last few years several of my children who were uncertain in spiritual matters have found a renewed relationship with the Lord and are steadily moving forward.

I have also been surprised and deeply concerned about many of my friends who have children who have not followed the Lord. My generation still hesitates to follow the Scriptures in this matter by sharing our problems with one another; that is a great mistake, for we need to pray for each other and for each other's children. But I also praise the Lord for many who have mentioned to me how their children have come back into the sunlight of God's presence.

If you had the opportunity to do over again things you have done in the last 30 years, what would you do differently?

I would spend more quality time with my children, I would pay more attention to showing my wife that I appreciate her, and I would examine myself more thoroughly to detect spiritual faults and have them dealt with by my Lord much earlier in the personal spiritual process.

Originally published in Christianity Today October 5, 1979

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

See also: The Living Bible's Modern Hero | Ken Taylor's autobiography shows a man who makes nothing of an extraordinary life.

Tyndale House Publishers says a Ken Taylor memorial website will be available soon.

Wheaton College has a collection of Ken Taylor's writings and a short biography.

In an article about The Living Bible, Books & Culture editor John Wilson says the impact of Ken Taylor's work extended far beyond the fortunes of The Living Bible.

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June (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49