Proverbs 1:8b ‘… and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.’

Do you hear your mother in yourself when speaking to your children? I know I do. Repeating things that were said over and over and over again. Learning by repetition. Some of those things I found I had to curb when my children were younger because of things I have learnt as an adult and because of my faith. But other things were good to uphold and continue to teach to my daughters and hopefully they will follow through with their own families.

Throughout Proverbs and other books in the bible we are told the same thing over and over and over again. And we are encouraged to bring up our children in the training and instruction of our Lord (Ephesians 6:4). It is important to repeat the lessons often so that they can be instilled in our children. And for that reason, we should also check ourselves - our actions, our words, are we living a life that reflects what we are teaching our children? Mothers, our children need us.  Let’s not forsake teaching our children.

Joash was seven yars old when he became king… All his life Joash did what was right because Jehoiada the High priest instructed him. 2 Kings 11;21, 12:2 The Living Bible

Funny how these verses are suddenly now coming to my attention but I feel it is such an important message for us all. On the radio this morning was an article about a schoolboy who had been expelled due to drug trafficking at the school a couple of months ago. Apparently the police weren’t involved and the school was choosing to deal with it themselves, counselling all the boys involved and some were suspended for a time.

Not knowing the full details it’s hard to know what to think but I am concerned that the boys involved may think that the matter was simply swept ‘under the carpet’ and that it may lead to worse things later in life. Of course there is the usual media hype about what’s taken place and people now making comment that the police should have been involved. I know if I were a parent of a child at that school I’d be asking lots of questions.

Our children are so easily influenced by their surroundings and their peers and parents have a really hard job ahead of them in trying to keep children on a straight and narrow path. But if it is instilled in them from a young age they are more likely to respect their parents’ opinion and seek to earn their parents’ respect. Some worry that it might stifle their child and restrict development if they are too ‘instructive’ whilst the child is young but if kids are left to roam ‘free’ and are not corrected from a very young age, it is far too late to change that once they reach early teens or even the pre-pubescent age. Children need to know their boundaries from a very young age - how else are they going to learn right from wrong if not from their parents?

Just as we are taught in Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” This is not to say children don’t stray as they go older - often they will, but if they have no basis for knowing right from wrong they are less likely to experience a personal inner conviction when they have done something they shouldn’t.

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The final verse of this book! It took me almost a year to get through this - that hadn’t been my intention when I first started but it seems fitting I finish the last verse on the last day of the year.

This verse shows that the Proverbs 31 woman bears fruit for all she has done. She has virtue, she is faithful, she is a loving and caring mother and wife who provides for her family all that is necessary, she is a good manager, is a good worker and is industrious, she is wise in business, kind in nature, looks out for those who are needy, she is praiseworthy, excels at what she does and fears the Lord. A tall order for us all to aim for, and yet if we aim for nothing we will get just that - nothing! I can’t profess to be a Proverbs 31 Woman - at least not in entirety, but that is my aim.

I will continue to post periodically as I think of things that relate to this topic and I welcome your comments which might also encourage discussion. Bless you and thank you for coming to read this blog.  KMT

Charm is deceptive, and beauty if fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

There are few things which last longer than life itself, but our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ does, along with God and the Holy Spirit. We can show so much charm, we can hide our facade of who we really are for only so long, but eventually weaknesses show through, the cover or armour gets chipped, corners get broken. The beauty we have with youth matures and changes with age - some for the better as they get older, and others look rather weathered and worse off.

If a man chooses to marry a woman based simply on her charm and her good looks, he stands to be disappointed some time later - sometimes much sooner than later. I believe that’s why marrying in haste can be disastrous. And if one marries purely for the sake of passion and lust, it will not be long-lasting. Many get married mistaking these feelings for love. It takes time to get to know the real person underneath, and to understand how that person is made up. But, if the woman is someone who fears and loves the Lord with all her heart, then the man who is set on marrying her stands to benefit from a jewel in his life - someone who is worth far more than rubies, as verse 10 in this book tells us. The beauty within goes far deeper than skin, looks and charm, and the heart of this woman is something to be valued and respected, and fully appreciated.  More than that, the man can trust and know that she hears from the Lord and will respect and love her husband as God intended.

Blessed is the man who seeks and marries a woman who understands Proverbs 31 and who seeks to be the best she can be.

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all

In some bible versions it says ‘daughters’ rather than women and talks of ‘excellence’ rather than being ‘noble’. Who is it that has surpassed them all? And what is it that she’s done so excellently?

I believe that it is referring in entirety to the Proverbs 31 woman and how she has carried herself, and her role as mother, wife, woman in an excellent and noble manner, that she has surpassed all others in the way she carries herself.

Such a high ideal for us all to meet, but certainly one worth aiming for. Have you noticed how if you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it? Then so must we hit something if we aim at something - even if it isn’t the bullseye.

If your life’s goal is to be a Proverbs 31 woman, to provide for your family through your gifts, abilities, resources at hand, etc, then your family will certainly benefit and you can be sure of receiving a message of ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ when your time is done here on earth. For what better cause is there than to bring up children to be God-fearing adults and to care for and support a hard-working husband, being in total partnership with him? Eve was created to be a help-mate to her husband, Adam, and so it is with us today. Men and women, partners in the household and family, each carrying out their particular roles for the benefit of each member of the family.  Perhaps there is some merit in that phrase ‘behind every successful man is a woman’ - particularly if she is a Proverbs 31 woman.  KMT