Proverbs 24:30-34
Is Training of Children Infringing on Their Liberty to Choose'
Coleridge, the English poet, was once talking with a man who expressed the opinion that he did not believe in giving little children any religious instruction whatsoever. His theory was that the child should not be prejudiced in any direction, until arriving at the years of discretion, he should be permitted to choose for himself his religious opinions.
Coleridge said nothing; he took his visitor out into an unkept garden where weeds were growing in abundance. The surprised visitor exclaimed, “Why this is not a garden! There is nothing here but “weeds!”
“Well, you see,” explained Coleridge, “I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself and make its own choices.”