In the book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Dr. Seuss wrote the wonderful lines: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose!”

Dr. Seuss hit upon the truth, didn’t he? Yes, God has given us brains in our heads and feet in our shoes. And He also gave us the freedom to walk in any direction we choose. While He hopes we’ll choose to follow Him along the narrow path of righteousness, He does not make us do so.

Which leads me to the essential question for parents…

Where Are You Going?

When our children are babies, they go where we go. We strap them safely in the carrier to run errands or take a trip to the park. Our children are under our control and have no choice but to go where we go.

But when they start walking on their own, they resist our control. They slap our hand away, and like miniature versions of us with God, they refuse a guiding hand. And as any parent knows, when kids make their own decisions, they end up in danger. In a split second, they race into traffic, fall into the pool, or jump off the table.

Oh my! Dr. Seuss would say.

Yes, we can snatch them away and force them to walk with us, or if they are especially stubborn, we carry them. But eventually our babies grow up, and we can no longer control where they go.

And that’s why it is vital to set them on the correct spiritual path as early as possible. Hence, the question, “Where are you going?”

Are you going to church with your children?

Are you teaching them about Jesus?

Or

Are you finding other things to do?

As parents, where we go and the example we set for our children speaks volumes about what is important to us. And if following Jesus isn’t a top priority, then chances are it won’t be important to our children.  Our lives—whether we acknowledge it or not—are living testimonies to our kids.

What does our testimony reveal?

Follow God’s Positional System (GPS)

Not long ago, we used paper maps to find our way from one place to another. Or we’d call ahead and write down the directions we were given.

Now, we hop in the car with no thought given to how we’re getting from point A to B. We enter the address into our map app, and, in a few seconds, it plots the trip. We head off with complete trust in the app.

In our daily lives, much like we do in our cars, we arise each day and make our plans trusting ourselves on how to get there. And we disregard following life’s ultimate map, the Holy Bible. Also known as God’s Positional System (GPS). Sadly, we take our children with us on this wayward journey.

Our kids learn by watching what we do. They hear what we say and act as we act. And during those early formative years, they go where we go. If we are following God’s Positional System, then so are they. And if we aren’t, well . . . we know the answer.

It is Never Too Late

We have all steered ourselves into a ditch, touched a hot stove, or said things we later regret. Yet, God allows us to learn things the hard way, if that is what we choose. Like a wise parent, He knows that dragging us by the hand will only lead to us digging in our heels and screaming No! at the top of our lungs. He wants us to follow Him willingly.

Also notice that when we resist Him and go our own way, He does not change His testimony. While He is always with us, He does not agree with our wrongheaded decisions. He remains steadfast.

If we desire to make changes, today is a great time to ask His forgiveness. Maybe we carry deep regret that our life’s story has led our children astray. No matter our testimony, God still loves us.

But He does want us to follow Him. Receive His mercy. Reset our direction and follow the Holy Bible’s guidance. It is never too late to start again with Jesus.

There’s a line from one of my favorite old hymns that goes, “Where He leads me, I will follow.” When parents follow Jesus, their children follow them. And God is pleased when we lead our babies to Him.

Helpful Suggestions

Take your child to pick out their own Bible and create a daily “Bible moment.” Let them choose a Bible they feel excited about, then invite them to sit with you for even five minutes a day while you read them together. Say something simple like, “This is where I hear from God.” Over time, this shared rhythm shows them that God’s Word isn’t just important, but it’s personal and worth making time for.

Turn your home into a living reminder of God’s Word. Instead of placing verses up on your own, involve your children. Let them choose a verse, decorate it, and decide where it should go—on the fridge, mirror, or even their bedroom door. Seeing their own handwriting and creativity helps move Scripture from something they hear to something they treasure and remember.

Bring Bible stories into everyday conversations and make them come alive through creativity. After reading a story, connect it directly to your child’s world. For example, you might say, “Remember how David trusted God when he was afraid? What’s something you’re facing this week where you can trust God too?” Then extend the lesson with a simple art activity—have your child draw the story, create a small craft (like a paper sling for David or a rainbow for Noah), or act it out together. This helps your child not only understand the lesson but experience it, making God’s Word stick in both their heart and their imagination.

Ginny Cruz, MPA, PT, is an award-winning author and pediatric physical therapist. Her latest book, The New Mom’s Guide: Help and Hope for Baby’s First Year, takes the guesswork out of baby’s first year, giving moms simple, purposeful ways to play, connect, and support their baby’s development—without overwhelm. In addition to her monthly blog, her work appears on Focus on the Family. She is the mother of two grown sons, married to her college sweetheart, and enjoys morning coffee, hiking, and reading.

Connect with Ginny at GinnyCruz.com and subscribe to her blog and newsletter for more encouraging developmental tips.