Looking Back

Prov. 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 

Reading this chapter makes me wonder what did John and I teach our children. Were we centered on the fear of the Lord? Was acting wisely a priority? I know we taught them a work ethic, respect for others, and to love God, but this chapter seems to be specific about things that perhaps we thought were absorbed from our life style. And was our life style of such depth that they could see Scriptures lived out in our lives?

• Pro 3:5-6  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 straight your paths. I know that the children memorized this many times, but I am unsure if they really made it theirs practically. It is even hard for me to have this complete trust.
• Pro 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. How a person perceives themselves is so important. Did we live so that they saw that God's word was our guide and not our own brand of wisdom? Did we live in such a way that we demonstrated the fear of the Lord? I know we were restrictive about things that were evil, but was that more legalism rather than coming from a heart that feared the Lord?
• Pro 3:9-10  Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;  then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. We had very little wealth, but we did give to the Lord. However, that has seemed to have worked out conversely in their lives. They all want more than they had as children.
• Pro 3:11-12  My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,  for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. It's hard to differentiate between God's care through suffering as opposed to His discipline. As an adult I have shown them the joy of the Lord in the midst of suffering. 
• Pro 3:12-14  Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,  for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. Getting wisdom is so crucial. Perhaps it is a life-long lesson. Do I even have wisdom now? But looking back, I doubt that we demonstrated a search for wisdom, but we did read a lot in Proverbs and encouraged the children to read a chapter a day every month. We can trust that the word will not return void. It has power to transform a life.
• Pro 3:21-22  My son, do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion,  and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. The Bible calls for wisdom and discretion, knowing when and how to speak and act. They will keep the direction of life straight and the traumas of life peaceful. This is evidenced in our lives much more as our children are grown.
• Pro 3:26  for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.How important is this! I am afraid the Lord was not always our confidence. We looked too much to the ways of man and were afraid of consequences. As adults, I pray that they see the Lord is my confidence. 
• Pro 3:33, 35  The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. ...  The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. Thankfully His righteousness is mine. Do they see this vital connection between honor and disgrace?

The one good thing that John and I did was give our children to the Lord. We have seen Him work tremendously in their lives. I am so blessed to see that learning continues into their adult years. The witness of our lives still affects them. 

Father,

Thank You Lord, for this wonderful family. I know that we have failed many times, but we know that Your hand was ever on them. You are a God of steadfast love and mercy. Continue to work in their lives as You do in ours. 

In Jesus name,

Amen