I was recently a victim of the restructuring infection that is
taking in corporate America. Despite my
initial thoughts, I have been pleasantly surprised at the peace I have with my
new day job. Parenting is definitely the
hardest job in America. Unlike corporate
America, the bonus comes later in life.
When you manage to look at your grand-kids and see the children you
raised as productive citizens making a contribution to the lives of their
children and maintaining a healthy life-style; you can finally breathe and
appreciate a job well done. Bonus!
While parenting never ends, there are some lessons to be
learned from the time children are born until they are adults. Every day can be
an opportunity to learn more about the personality you gave birth to and learn
to draw from your own experiences in order to sow seeds of love that should
produce good fruits in their lives for years to come. For me, I have had to lean on a truth that
has stood the test of time. The Bible
helps me to stay grounded, draw lessons from own childhood through reflection;
as well as learn self-correction in the areas that shaped my personality to
correctly parent in love and truth.
The Bible is a good resource for anyone, but I have
especially enjoyed reviewing scriptures with my children when they come home
from school with a new crisis or scream “I had a bad day”. I can only imagine what a typical day looked
like for Mary, mother of Jesus. He was a
little boy, like all little boys; but he was also the divine seed of God. Hidden within him was the Creator of the
Universe. I believe that is true for my
children right now. Hidden in them is the Almighty himself and all things are
possible in and through them with God.
Clinging to this truth, I realize my job is to equip and prepare them to
take on a world that can be good and evil.
My job is to release the divine will of God that is stored up on the
inside of them and show them how to harness and utilize the Sword of the
Spirit; which is the Word of God in everyday life.
The Book of Proverbs provides God’s detailed instructions
for His people to deal successfully with the practical affairs of everyday
life: how to relate to God, parents children, neighbors and government. For the record, our neighbors are anyone we
come in contact with on the planet earth.
Government is our modern day government, as well as those in authority
over us. We all report to someone and must submit to the law of the land. King Solomon, inspired and fueled by the Holy Spirit, is the author
who uses poetry, parables, pithy questions, short stories and wise maxims to
give the divine perspective necessary to handle life’s issues. Proverbs is the “Book of Wisdom”.
The top 10 Proverbs
used when equipping children to release them into the world:
- My sons, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. (Proverbs 1: 8-9)
- When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11: 2)
- Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive [intelligent]. (Proverbs 17:28).
- The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent [hard-working] shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4)
- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)
- The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. (Proverbs 29:25)
- Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
- The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. (Proverbs 10:16
- For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (Proverbs 8:11)
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
The
most reproof in my life came through my grandmother. One vivid image in my mind
is when she pulled out the big, black Bible and read to the grandchildren. Many of the things she taught were not
clearly understood until I became an adult in my thirties. There were English
proverbs and Biblical Proverbs as well. These parables may not have made since
then, but with time and wisdom gained through age; they are very clear now.
The
Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)”.
The days that I spent with my grandmother were seed sowing days. She sowed seeds of truth from the Bible into
my life. When she passed, it felt like all I had went with her. In retrospect, she had already delivered the
message to me and with time, in the right season and at God’s appointed time;
everything she said came back to me and was crystal clear. Revelation is a
wonderful thing and wisdom is really worth more than rubies (Proverbs 8:11). With both in your life, you have ’peace that
surpasses all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7).
There
is a part of us that strives for perfection and we try to parent that way also.
There is nothing perfect about us or our children. However, there is grace,
mercy and forgiveness given to us every day.
With that knowledge, we equip our children with truth that tells them
they are not perfect and it is how the respond to their mistakes that makes all
the difference. Because of grace, we are
forgiven and each new day is a day to start over.
At
the end of a long day with your children, think back on and journal all the
teachable moments. There may be times
when you ministered to them and there are times when your child deposited a
golden nugget of understanding that only a child-like faith could conger up. One memory I have from a few months ago is when
my son’s winter coats (yes, more than one) mysteriously disappeared from his
classroom. He said, “Mom, relax! Think of it this way. There is someone who needed a coat, because
it is cold outside. We gave to the poor”.
With that bit of wisdom, how could I be upset?
The “Benefits of Wisdom” can be summed up
as:
If… we accept God’s word and obey
If…
we listen for wisdom and search for it
If…
we understand that wisdom is like a great treasure
Then…we will respect God and know Him
well.
The “Book of Wisdom” can be summed as:
1. Trust Jesus as our Savior and honor God.
2. Read His word, since the Bible teaches
us how to find wisdom.
3. Make right choices.
4. Stay away from wrong choices (sin).
5. If we do sin, ask for forgiveness and learn from our
mistakes. (From - Ministry to Children and Tony Kummer)
Reflections:
1. When
was the last time you read Proverbs?
2. How
are you using Proverbs or any other part of the Bible in your own life?
3. What
does the Bible say about you as a parent, wife, and neighbor?
4. What
have you shared with your children about your childhood?
5. Is
there anything you remember from your childhood, good or bad, that could be a relayed
as a teachable moment for your children now?
What has been is what
will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new
under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9
