Proverbs 22:6--Proverbial Promise or Proverbial Warning?

I've been thinking a lot about the parents among us the last few days. Maybe I'm feeling the weight of my own inadequacies as a father, but I expect I'm not alone in that at times. My mind turned to Proverbs 22:6 for reflection. Sometimes this verse provokes some negative feelings for parents; other times, it stirs up confusion when it doesn't seem to line up with our experience. I'll try to provide some guidance on how to handle Proverbs in general, but, with this verse in particular, it may be that we've approached it from the wrong angle and misunderstood its point. However we understand the meaning, this verse does highlight parents' responsibility with their children, and when we fail or feel like we're failing in that responsibility, we can despair. Instead, let's lean into the gospel, while not ignoring our responsibility. Join me in living in that tension.