Lessons in Raising a Child...
The Book of Proverbs
Proverbs Chapter 23
Scripture= Proverbs chapter 23:22-25 (The Message)
Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don't neglect her.Buy truth—don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents.So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!
Observations and Applications=
“Just wait until you have children than you will appreciate your parents.” Have you ever heard that before? Another phrase I remember hearing was, “Just wait until you have children of your own than you will understand.” Both of these are very similar and express the insight of delaying judgment until we are in a position to really understand what it is like to raise a family. I remember saying to myself, “when I have my own family I’ll …or “I’ll never do…”
It is so easy to speak out before experience teaches us her wisdom.
As you were growing up did you ever think that your parents were just out of touch, that they didn’t understand you? I did too. I still remember questioning their judgment and resisting their rules. Now I look back and I am so grateful that they loved me enough to discipline me and keep me in line. Experience has taught me that to discipline my children and to impose boundaries into their lives is to reveal my love for them, even if it is not always understood or appreciated.
When I was youth pastor some 16 years ago (ouch, I’m getting old) I was amazed when I would take kids away on some events and parents never came to meet me and find out about their trip. I remember one time we returned home and we couldn’t leave a young person at home because their parents were gone. Now I don’t mean that they weren’t at home, they were gone. They had moved and the child did not even know were they had gone or had no way of contacting them! Talk about abandonment!
It is no wonder that this generation has lost so much respect for their parents. I have seen to often and quite frankly I have dealt with it myself, that it is so easy for us as parents to get so wrapped up in our own lives and its demands that we can easily forget our responsibilities as a parent. I have also seen too many Parents who are more concerned about being their children’s friend than being their parent. Let’s face it; raising children is a HUGE responsibility. Without the help of the Holy Spirit I don’t know how anybody can do it, and do it well!
Solomon tells us to appreciate our parents. To honor them and provide for them when they are old. Our provision can include financial or physical assistance but more than anything should include our respect. When we make the right decisions and when we see our lives progressing why not throw some accolades their way? We need to show our children how we are respecting our parent because one day we will be in the same boat. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how you are treating your parents and remember: that whether you are conscious of it or not you are teaching your children how to treat you!
Prayer=
Lord Jesus, Thank you for my Mom and my Dad. Help me to show them my gratitude and love. Help me to say thank you and treat them with honor and dignity. Help me to model that example before my own children. And Lord. Help me to stay involved in the lives of my own children even when they don’t understand or appreciate what I am doing.
