Aw, finally, really back to our regular routine (well, you know, not counting the holidays that will be here before you know it!).
After finally getting back into a blogging groove, the stomach bug and a couple of trips out of town knocked me out of it again. Hopefully back soon, but, for now, kids in costumes.
And, a mention that kids grow way too fast!
Proverbs 31:15:
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
Proverbs 31:10-31, the section of Scripture about the virtuous wife, provides many lessons when it comes to parenting; however, I’m going to focus in a verse that characterizes an area in which I need encouragement. Proverbs 31:15 states that the worthy woman “rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household.” The encouragement I need from this verse is twofold: one, to always be working hard for my family, and two, to always be ready to provide for my family, even if it means that I need to rise while it is yet night. It can be very easy to fall into the trap of idleness around the home, and I don’t want to let that idleness rule the home. I want to be active in all aspects around the home, always being ready and willing to take on whatever challenge comes that day. And, beyond even being ready to take on the challenges of the day, to start each day out right: prepared to provide for all in my family.
This past week has been a rollercoaster of misery founded in sickness and exhaustion. Every single member of the house has been sick with a nasty stomach bug. On top of the that, the stomach bug has almost seemed to hit the kids twice. And then again several times when we thought they were past it all. Although I have no desire to clean up a wetting accident in the middle of the night, I have never been more hopeful that the steps coming around the corner in the middle of the night are going to bring that news rather than news of the week: “Daddy, I throwed up.”
I’ve learned a lot of things this past week. It has taught me that I owe my parents a whole lot more than I could have ever imagined for taking care of me when I was sick as a little one. It has also confirmed that, although I’ve never wanted to be a nurse, I’m definitely not cut out for the job. It has also strengthened my belief that I’m completely blessed by who I married, and how thankful I am to have him when going through stuff like this.
Proverbs 29:17:
Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
Today’s passage falls in line with both my thoughts about Proverbs 19:18 and Proverbs 23:13-14. As a parent, I must not neglect my responsibility and blessing of correcting my children. I think of correcting and disciplining my children as a blessing not because I enjoy correcting them or disciplining them, but rather because it gives me the opportunity to mold them and guide them; ultimately, to mold them in accordance with God’s Word. I’m thankful for the mission field that God has placed in my home, and my desire is that I do all I can to show them God and how to be obedient to Him. That blessing is further examined in Proverbs 29:17 – that “he [your son] will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.” Why would a child that has been corrected give rest and delight to a parent’s soul? Because, hopefully, that correction has led them toward a path of righteousness rather than a path of sin.
Proverbs 27:23-26:
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds;
For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field;
You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.
Do I know the state of my flocks? Do I attend to my herds? Two pointed questions that I must seriously reflect upon. As the keeper of the home, I need to know the state of my flocks. I need to know how my children are growing up, what things they are struggling with, and what things they are excelling in. I need to know how they are growing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I think there are two key words in verse 23: diligent and attend. First, knowing the state of my flocks isn’t something that just happens. I have to be diligent in knowing the state of my flocks, or, in other words, making a constant effort to know the state of my flocks. Secondly, I have to attend to my herds. I have to devote time to my children. I have to minister to my children. I have to guard and watch over my children. These are not easy tasks, and require hard work and dedication on my part.
And, although I’m specifically applying this passage to knowing the state of my children for this series, this passage goes beyond just knowing the state of my children. I need to know the state of my flocks in regards to many areas of the home, and I should always be diligently seeking to foster a godly home for my family.
Proverbs 25:28:
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Once again in my study, although I need to teach my children to have self control, I feel like I need to reflect on the wisdom of this passage personally. I think it boils down to the fact that I need to have more patience in my handlings with others, particularly with my children. I often let frustration overrun my attitude and my words rather than calmly handling a situation. Or, I let myself become completely run down with little things that turn into something bigger. And when it become something bigger, I don’t handle the situation like I ought. I need to have more self control and patience to not let the little things bother me so much. I also need to make sure that I’m promoting an attitude of selflessness. Sometimes when I struggle with patience and self control, I know it is because I’m not exhibiting a God-first, others-second, me-last attitude. I don’t want to be a city that is broken down without walls, but rather a stronghold for my home.
