Then Manoah said, "Now then, when your words come true, what must the boy do? What kind of a life must he lead?"

The LORD's angel answered, "Your wife must be sure to do everything that I have told her. She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine; she must not drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food. She must do everything that I have told her."

Not knowing that it was the LORD's angel, Manoah said to him, "Please do not go yet. Let us cook a young goat for you."

But the angel said, "If I do stay, I will not eat your food. But if you want to prepare it, burn it as an offering to the LORD."

Judges 13:12-16

What a miraculous day it is when two people discover they are going to be parents. It is even more exciting for those who have been unable to have children. Such was the case of Manoah and his wife, just prior to the birth of their son Samson. As parents we should not ask how we can produce a godly or successful child, but rather we should ask how we can be more godly parents.

Children's ears may be closed to advise,

but their eyes are open to example.

Our Daily Bread - October 13, 2002