As my stepson continues his progress through his teenage years, there’s something in Proverbs that I want to share with him. I have shared this indirectly many times, but I need to share the end of chapter 4 with him.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious lips far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor the left; turn your foot from evil. –Proverbs 4:23-27.
Age gives you the benefit of seeing the past and the mistakes you made and how things would have been much different had you done things differently. I pause and think that, in a way, unless I had made this mistakes I made, I would not be where I am today. I realize that as he grows older, it becomes more about letting him experience the consequences of his choices. However, that does not mean we don’t instruct him beforehand.
We should not be surprised if our children rebel and give us problems. How many problems have God’s children given him? How many rebellious things have we done against God? Yet God’s love and discipline are always consistent. God’s love does not fail His children and neither should ours for our children!
May He Increase!
Thanks, Joe.
As one with a son who has been in a lot of trouble (and still is), and as one who has made more than his share of mistakes, I really appreciate this post.
Dr. Martin!
How are you, brother? Long time, no talk.
I feel your pain. We’ve been–and even up to about 5 minutes ago–still going through issues trying to get my 15 year old stepson through high school and his teenage years. It’s not for the faint of heart. Thanks so much for visiting and your comment. We’re all in this together!
I have two daughter, i have been up all night worried about #2 girl. It is time to tell “boyfriend” of said daughter that I expect a powerful prison ministry to come out of all this! He is a “Christian” but of the nutty legalistic cultish variety, do they let you blog in jail?
Will,
Blogging in jail…ah, probably not unless you are The Hurricane.
One of favorite teachers in high school recently passed away. In the alumni newsletter (I think) they wrote a story about him and his teenage daughter. Before I get ahead of myself, he was a Marine. He looked like a Marine, acted like a Marine, and walked like a Marine. One of things I loved about him was his confidence. He wasn’t overly tall, but he was bigger than life. He had “presence,” for lack of a better word.
In any case, the story was about any time his daughter would have a date and the boy would come to the house to pick her up, he would answer the door and tell the boy, “let’s take a little walk.” They’d walk down the street, making small talk and getting to know each other. Then as they neared the house, Bill would lower his voice and say to the boy:
From what I remember of him, if I was dating his daughter, that might be the last night I’d ever ask her out! I don’t have daughters. God knew what He was doing. If I did, I’d be just like you: up all night (sharpening my biggest knife).