Wise Is Example More Than Lecture

(Proverbs 10:1 KJV)  The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

I had some trouble today because my beginning reading is in the Amplified Bible.  I found a verse that really spoke to me but when I went to beginning responding I found that what I was responding to was not actually in the text.  That is frustrating.  I will say more at the end of the month when I review the Amplified Bible.

As a parent, I live in hope.  I want my son, and my daughter, to be “wise” (2450) and demonstrate that wisdom.  I feel blessed that overall I am proud of both my children.  There are times when I wonder, but overall it is going well.  My hope is that I have done my job as a father and that my children have been trained up in the way in which they should go.  As children get older the type of influence you have changes.

If your children are young you can still focus on laying the foundations.  One of the scariest truths of life is that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher.  I teach in a public school and see this every day.  I try to remind parents and children.  I see the results of parents who are not investing in their children or are making the wrong type of investment.  Children do not grow up in a vacuum.  They develop their wisdom by watching your wisdom.  I told you it was scary.

If your children are young, what kind of wisdom are you demonstrating?  I was taught well by my father.  Once in awhile he would actually do it on purpose.  He showed me how to finish concrete, for instance.  Most of the teaching he was not even aware was being done.  It was the teaching done by living our lives.  He taught me to be honest, not only in what I said but in the work I did.  He taught me to keep going when it was painful.  He taught me responsibility and duty.  I learned by watching. 

If your children are young, you still have time to give the vital lessons.  I am past that point in life.  The foundations are laid for me.  Older children have different challenges. 

I live in blessing from the past and hope for the future.

So?  Invest where you are.  If your children are young, make sure you are learning from your heavenly Father and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Then live as you are taught.  If your children are older it is too late to lay foundations but never too late to be the influence you can be.  Blessings.