Practical Parenting from Proverbs Chapter Three
Wow! There's so much in this chapter, I hardly know where to begin. But I will start with the verses with which I am most familiar, due in part to a catchy tune that accompanied them in a Vacation Bible School (VBS) song. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6). Let's face it, my own understanding tends to be one dimensional and because of that I miss out on the big picture and usually end up in judgement mode because my one dimensional view is incorrect; it is an assumption rather than reality.
So when I parent, if I am making decisions based on assumptions, rather than facts, or Truth, I end up on the crooked road, rather than the straight and narrow. I am sure it is simply a deceitful tactic used by Satan, that wily guy, because based on experience, the assumptions carry enough half truths to be convincing, and he would just love for us to think we have it all figured out rather than turning to God.
So here is an example of how my assumptions had me in an uproar based on assumptions that might have been reasonable, but nonetheless were false. Let me also point out that these assumptions if not corrected, and used as the definitive litmus test, could have caused some significant damage to my relationship with my son. And Satan loves broken relationships; I think it is his specialty!
OK. Our son was out West this past spring working and we had agreed to jump start the move by paying for gas (yesterday I filled my tank...it was depressing...it is inching up towards $4.00 a gallon) and start up costs. The credit card, used for a set of pre-approved expenses was to be returned once he landed. I agreed that he could charge a snowboarding helmet and could keep it until that was purchased because to me it was a reasonable expense for a daredevil who spends more time in the air than on the snow when he is snowboarding. So imagine my surprise and anger when the next bill came and there was no helmet, but there was gas, a couple of lunches and some groceries. Not part of the deal.
I cancelled the card and was in a huff over feeling duped and taken advantage of. In fact, I even assumed the lunches were cigarettes, because the amount seemed about right. When I spoke to him, however, and told him I had cancelled the card, I got a different response. He was relieved...relieved! that I had cancelled the card because he readily admitted it was too easy for him to simply use the card, as he had those times because he hadn't cashed his check yet. He told me he would pay those charges and clarified to my rather barbing questions over cigarettes, that they were turkey sandwiches purchased for lunch on the mountain. So my own understanding was off base. I'm glad we got that cleared up before I got too carried away, and I was delighted and surprised by his response. Go figure.
It goes on to say in verse seven to not be wise in your own eyes. Because just about when you think you have it all figured out is when it starts to unravel.
So anyway, there is so much good stuff here, I think I will hang out in Chapter Three a bit longer.
So when I parent, if I am making decisions based on assumptions, rather than facts, or Truth, I end up on the crooked road, rather than the straight and narrow. I am sure it is simply a deceitful tactic used by Satan, that wily guy, because based on experience, the assumptions carry enough half truths to be convincing, and he would just love for us to think we have it all figured out rather than turning to God.
So here is an example of how my assumptions had me in an uproar based on assumptions that might have been reasonable, but nonetheless were false. Let me also point out that these assumptions if not corrected, and used as the definitive litmus test, could have caused some significant damage to my relationship with my son. And Satan loves broken relationships; I think it is his specialty!
OK. Our son was out West this past spring working and we had agreed to jump start the move by paying for gas (yesterday I filled my tank...it was depressing...it is inching up towards $4.00 a gallon) and start up costs. The credit card, used for a set of pre-approved expenses was to be returned once he landed. I agreed that he could charge a snowboarding helmet and could keep it until that was purchased because to me it was a reasonable expense for a daredevil who spends more time in the air than on the snow when he is snowboarding. So imagine my surprise and anger when the next bill came and there was no helmet, but there was gas, a couple of lunches and some groceries. Not part of the deal.
I cancelled the card and was in a huff over feeling duped and taken advantage of. In fact, I even assumed the lunches were cigarettes, because the amount seemed about right. When I spoke to him, however, and told him I had cancelled the card, I got a different response. He was relieved...relieved! that I had cancelled the card because he readily admitted it was too easy for him to simply use the card, as he had those times because he hadn't cashed his check yet. He told me he would pay those charges and clarified to my rather barbing questions over cigarettes, that they were turkey sandwiches purchased for lunch on the mountain. So my own understanding was off base. I'm glad we got that cleared up before I got too carried away, and I was delighted and surprised by his response. Go figure.
It goes on to say in verse seven to not be wise in your own eyes. Because just about when you think you have it all figured out is when it starts to unravel.
So anyway, there is so much good stuff here, I think I will hang out in Chapter Three a bit longer.
posted by www.kathypride.com at
8:33 AM
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