The Blame Game

(Pro 17:21 KJV)  He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

One of the questions I have about wayward children is, “Heredity or environment?”  Sometimes I ask in humor.  Other times, I am really puzzled.  This verse seems to imply that a “fool” (3684 and 5036) is born a fool and is destined to break the heart of his father.  I don’t know if that is a comfort or a fear.  It tells us that sometimes there is nothing we can do about the decisions our children make.

At the same time there are other places where it indicates that there is some hope for fools.  Again the question is how much can you as a parent do about it.  So much of people’s destiny is in their own hands.  There are so many people you can do nothing for.  Their children may be hungry, you give them some money and they go to Disneyland.

So?  All we can do is our best.  If we have done so then it is out of our hands.  We also need to find that balance between being cavalier and being obsessive.  Easy to say.  Hard to do.  I am glad that God sees our hearts.