---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never replace Jesus in our children's…"
description: "\"“We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't even do the work of Jesus in our children's lives. We do the work of parents, which is to poi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg"
---

#  We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't…

![“We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't even do the work of Jesus in our children's lives. We do the work of parents, which is to point our children to Jesus. And then Jesus does his own work--with or without us.” quote by Leslie Leyland Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg)

> ““We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't even do the work of Jesus in our children's lives. We do the work of parents, which is to point our children to Jesus. And then Jesus does his own work--with or without us.””

Leslie Leyland Fields

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parents should guide children toward Jesus, but the ultimate work is done by Jesus himself.

**In simple terms:** Parents point children to faith; Jesus does the rest.

Key Takeaway

Guide children, then step back.

Themes

faith parenting spiritual guidance trust

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

religious educational

When to use this quote

- family life
- church teaching
- spiritual mentorship

Key Concepts

guidance dependence divine agency

Questions to Reflect On

- How much should parents intervene in spiritual matters?
- What is the balance between guidance and autonomy?

A Different Perspective

Parents may overstep, limiting child's personal faith journey.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

## Related quotes

> [We are children, perhaps, at the very moment when we know that it is as children that God loves us - not because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/we-are-children-perhaps-at-the-very-moment-when-we-know-that-it-is-as/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [Top Ten List: Why Elvis Will Replace Jesus (a classic Net humor piece).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/top-ten-list-why-elvis-will-replace-jesus-a-classic-net-humor-piece/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-in-christ-jesus-you-are-all-children-of-god-through-faith-as-many/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Passing on a spiritual heritage to your children takes more than simply teaching God’s Word; it takes living out God’s Word. Fathers and mothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hibbs/passing-on-a-spiritual-heritage-to-your-children-takes-more-than/)

Jack Hibbs

> [Do no sinful action, speak no angry word; ye belong to Jesus, children of the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-frances-alexander/do-no-sinful-action-speak-no-angry-word-ye-belong-to-jesus-children/)

[Cecil Frances Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-frances-alexander/)

> [He is the greatest influence in the world today. There is... a fifth Gospel being written - the work of Jesus Christ in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-griffith-thomas/he-is-the-greatest-influence-in-the-world-today-there-is-a-fifth/)

William Griffith Thomas

> [Without out suffering, our work would just be social work, very good and helpful, but it would not be the work of Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/without-out-suffering-our-work-would-just-be-social-work-very-good/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/i-am-accepted-by-god-through-the-work-of-jesus-christ-therefore-i-obey/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [The gospel is the proclamation of the person and work of Jesus Christ and how those benefits can be applied to us by faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-gospel-is-the-proclamation-of-the-person-and-work-of-jesus-christ/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“The entire life and work of Jesus is one great argument why we should listen to his word. Page after page of the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-entire-life-and-work-of-jesus-is-one-great-argument-why-we-should/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [Rise up, you suckers, and go out and do the work of Jesus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/rise-up-you-suckers-and-go-out-and-do-the-work-of-jesus/)

[Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/)

> [The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action...If we pray the work...if we do it to Jesus, if we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-work-we-do-is-only-our-love-for-jesus-in-action-if-we-pray-the/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [ Though He had so much work to do with others, yet He \[Jesus\] chose sometimes to be alone, to set us an example. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/though-he-had-so-much-work-to-do-with-others-yet-he-jesus-chose/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

> [“Satan’s response to the work of God in our lives is to try to destroy the work of Jesus. What did Jesus say was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-durham/satan-s-response-to-the-work-of-god-in-our-lives-is-to-try-to-destroy/)

[James A. Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-durham/)

> [Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/through-the-person-and-work-of-jesus-christ-god-fully-accomplishes/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

## More by Leslie Leyland Fields

> [“In emphasizing God's love over his holiness--his set-apartness as a sovereign, omniscient authority--we end up believing that his central concern is our individual happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/in-emphasizing-god-s-love-over-his-holiness-his-set-apartness-as-a/)

Leslie Leyland Fields

> [“Ironically, pretending that parenting is easy diminishes the value of family. As truth seekers and truth speakers, we need to be honest about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/ironically-pretending-that-parenting-is-easy-diminishes-the-value-of/)

Leslie Leyland Fields

> [ “God has already shown us the way \[to parent\]. He parents, not according to an external list of rules, but according to his nature.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/god-has-already-shown-us-the-way-to-parent-he-parents-not-according/)

Leslie Leyland Fields

Explore all 4 Leslie Leyland Fields quotes

## More Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't even do the work of Jesus in our children's lives. We do the work of parents, which is to point our children to Jesus. And then Jesus does his own work--with or without us.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leslie Leyland Fields"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s-lives-we-don-t-even-do-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s-lives-we-don-t-even-do-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/leslie-leyland-fields-65345_children_we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s_349252.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We never replace Jesus in our children's lives. We don't even do the work of Jesus in our children's lives…” — Leslie Leyland Fields",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Leslie Leyland Fields",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-leyland-fields/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We never replace Jesus in our...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s-lives-we-don-t-even-do-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-leyland-fields/we-never-replace-jesus-in-our-children-s-lives-we-don-t-even-do-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
