Some of the saddest passages to read in all of Scripture are ones that depict parents (some of whom are highly respected Bible characters) refusing to actively parent, train and discipline their children. God’s judgment was pronounced against Eli “for the iniquity which he knows” regarding his sons, “and he did not restrain them” (1 Sam. 3:13). Samuel’s sons “did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice” (1 Sam. 8:3). Of David’s relationship with his son, Adonijah, Scripture reveals that David “had not rebuked him at any time” (1 Kgs. 1:6). In some of these cases, the children were holding the reins in the parent-child (or child-parent) relationship rather than the parents.
Parents, in your relationship with the children in your 
home, someone is holding the reins. Someone is deciding when to act or not act, to go or not go, to stop or not stop, to yield or not yield, to comply or not comply. The question is, who has hold of the reins in your home? Who is training? Who is being trained? Who is running the show? Who does God want to be in charge and steering the direction and decisions of your home? You or your children?