--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The parent may find it helpful to say…" description: "\"“The parent may find it helpful to say something like this: John, I’m going to trust you to make your own decision about this matter before God. But I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/jay-e-adams-7350_parenting_the-parent-may-find-it-helpful-to-say-so_1590235.jpg" --- # The parent may find it helpful to say something like this… ![“The parent may find it helpful to say something like this: John, I’m going to trust you to make your own decision about this matter before God. But I want you to do so responsibly. First, I want you to sit down and listen to my point of view as I understand the application of the Scriptures to the…” quote by Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/jay-e-adams-7350_parenting_the-parent-may-find-it-helpful-to-say-so_1590235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/jay-e-adams-7350_parenting_the-parent-may-find-it-helpful-to-say-so_1590235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/jay-e-adams-7350_parenting_the-parent-may-find-it-helpful-to-say-so_1590235.jpg) > ““The parent may find it helpful to say something like this: John, I’m going to trust you to make your own decision about this matter before God. But I want you to do so responsibly. First, I want you to sit down and listen to my point of view as I understand the application of the Scriptures to the question, and I want to explain the consequences of this proposed action as I see them. After that I want you to take a week to think and pray about this matter before coming to a final decision (in a very important matter, or in the first instance of instituting self-discipline, the parent may also wish to request written reasons for the decision). Then after you have made it, I’ll say no more-but you must be prepared to face the consequences.”” [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He advises parents to trust children’s decisions, provide guidance, and allow time for prayerful reflection before final choices, emphasizing responsibility and consequences. **In simple terms:** Guide children, let them decide, accept outcomes. Key Takeaway Teach responsibility through guided choice. Themes parenting faith responsibility Mood thoughtful supportive Type parental spiritual When to use this quote - family meetings - school decisions - career choices - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts decision‑making spiritual guidance discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can parents balance guidance with freedom? - What consequences teach responsibility best? A Different Perspective Parents must respect autonomy while maintaining authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-important-469060/) [Discipline Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-parent-6025691/) [Make Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decision/) [Parent Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent-helpful-6025692/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Reasons Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-decision-6025690/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in two principles: Your attitude is more important than your capabilities. Similarly, your decision is more important than your capabilities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-believe-in-two-principles-your-attitude-is-more-important-than-your/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Before God closed in on me, I was offered what now appears a moment of wholly free choice. But I feel my decision was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/before-god-closed-in-on-me-i-was-offered-what-now-appears-a-moment-of/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“I read once that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than that fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/i-read-once-that-courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-decision/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [The orders and directives issued on the basis of government decisions should be exhaustive and factual. Deep and thorough examination is required before taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/the-orders-and-directives-issued-on-the-basis-of-government-decisions/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-decision-that-something-is/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [I don't make a decision till I see fit. That's why I'm so effective. My mind isn't predetermined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/i-don-t-make-a-decision-till-i-see-fit-that-s-why-i-m-so-effective-my/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [There is a time when we must firmly choose the course which we will follow or the endless drift of events will make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-time-when-we-must-firmly-choose-the-course-which-we-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you ever make a decision that doesn't put the kids first, it is the wrong decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-anstead/if-you-ever-make-a-decision-that-doesn-t-put-the-kids-first-it-is-the/) [Ant Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-anstead/) > [In the early stages of a pregnancy, the Government cannot intervene with a woman's right to choose. That is it, plain and simple. Guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/in-the-early-stages-of-a-pregnancy-the-government-cannot-intervene/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Golf is a lot like life. When you make a decision, stick with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-nelson/golf-is-a-lot-like-life-when-you-make-a-decision-stick-with-it/) [Byron Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-nelson/) > [Give up, give in, or give it all you've got. Make a decision. But don't just sit there overthinking everything and doing absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-up-give-in-or-give-it-all-you-ve-got-make-a-decision-but-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) [Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/) > [If you simply cannot make the right decision, make a decision and then make it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/if-you-simply-cannot-make-the-right-decision-make-a-decision-and-then/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [It's really hard coming of age in today's society, where society wants you to make the decision of what you want to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/it-s-really-hard-coming-of-age-in-today-s-society-where-society-wants/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) ## More by Jay E. Adams > [“No man is free to ignore God’s standards. No one has the right to choose not to serve God, for God has made man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/no-man-is-free-to-ignore-god-s-standards-no-one-has-the-right-to/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is at work, one of the discernible evidences of His presence is changed personalities. Men can and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/wherever-the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-at-work-one-of-the-discernible/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“When clients think they are helpless, that some strange mysterious force is at work overpowering them, and they say that I Corinthians 10:13 does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/when-clients-think-they-are-helpless-that-some-strange-mysterious/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Nouthetic counseling, then, necessarily embodies involvement of the deepest sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/nouthetic-counseling-then-necessarily-embodies-involvement-of-the/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“While victories in the struggle are possible through Christ (vs. 25), they do not come easily or apart from daily battles involving just such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/while-victories-in-the-struggle-are-possible-through-christ-vs-25/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“But even that distress must be balanced by enthusiastic hope. It is his task always to sound the note of biblical optimism that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/but-even-that-distress-must-be-balanced-by-enthusiastic-hope-it-is/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“The fourth response is Christian: “It can be solved through Christ.” Notice that the first three responses leave the problem intact and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/the-fourth-response-is-christian-it-can-be-solved-through-christ/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Nowhere does the Bible say that one must wait for change. Jesus did not ask people to wait. He expected and effected change right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/nowhere-does-the-bible-say-that-one-must-wait-for-change-jesus-did/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“the Christian cheerfully asserts the possibility of thorough, rapid change. This is a very crucial plank in the Christian counselor’s platform. As a basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/the-christian-cheerfully-asserts-the-possibility-of-thorough-rapid/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“There are at least seven separately definable elements involved in biblical change. These cannot be viewed merely as successive steps, since most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/there-are-at-least-seven-separately-definable-elements-involved-in/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“We are to vigorously and violently demolish all the fortifications of the foe, winning the battle and talking him captive for Christ. The Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/we-are-to-vigorously-and-violently-demolish-all-the-fortifications-of/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Most cases of child discipline may be solved by establishing structure that will lead to the reenforcement of the biblical principles established for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/most-cases-of-child-discipline-may-be-solved-by-establishing/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Counselees continually confuse learned behavior patterns with inherited nature (phusis). Counselors may take it as a rule that any quality of life, attitude of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/counselees-continually-confuse-learned-behavior-patterns-with/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [The Christian is free from all other human beings. He does not have to live over against others, controlled by their actions and responses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/the-christian-is-free-from-all-other-human-beings-he-does-not-have-to/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Similarly, the Scriptures urge the believer to be what God has declared him to be in Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/similarly-the-scriptures-urge-the-believer-to-be-what-god-has/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) [Explore all 92 Jay E. Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) ## More Parenting quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. 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I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. 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