Our Scripture reading today is Luke 2:41-42, "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."
The earthly parents of the Lord Jesus were committed to bringing Him up in the Jewish customs of the day. Joseph and Mary were sinners and needed a Saviour as much as you and I need one. We do see in them an example of faithful parents seeking to influence all of their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Who is influencing our children? Our children will be influenced. A definition for influence is "the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command". It is imperative that we ask the Lord to help us to be faithful in our walk with Him in order that we might have a positive influence on our children as well as others around us.