Yesterday was Mother’s Day. A day where mother’s young and old gather together – some in person, some in memory. But all thought of in one way or another.
Tearing the sheet off from my calendar to reveal the day’s verse, I expected to see the familiar, “They rise up and call her “blessed” verse from Proverbs 31. To my pleasant surprise, the page revealed a different verse:
Right there, on the teeniest of calendars I have ever had, a most poignant message was preached. Three qualities are needed when raising a family:
- “It takes wisdom.” I thought of the many times, I had no idea what I was doing or what to do. Left to myself, I would surely have made the wrong decision, and many times I did. But there were also times, when I remembered to rely fully on Him, He provided me with the wisdom needed. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5, NLT).
- “It takes understanding.” Every generation comes with its own distinctions. Every child is unique. Throw in varied and never before experienced situations, and understanding is imperative. We need to not only grasp each situation and the emotions of our family members, we need to interpret them correctly and with sympathy. Often this will require more of us than we possess. “I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding” (Psalm 119:32, NLT).
- “It takes knowledge.” Although it has been said, “Moms have eyes behind the back of the heads”, we often do not know everything. There can be aspects of a situation which are completely unknown to us. We need to be willing to learn, and patiently wait until we know all the facts. Then we can make decisions on what is to be allowed into our homes and families. “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15, NLT).
A good family and a treasured home
are ours as we depend on Him.
Today I am joining … Inspire Me Monday .
Those really are the perfect verses for Mother’s Day! I’m grateful that God provides us with the wisdom, understanding and knowledge that we need.
It’s amazing to think how involved He becomes in our parenting. But then, He is our Father!
Isn’t is a blessing when the text of scripture is unexpected? It seems like I learn the most when I am caught off guard. Thanks for sharing what you gleaned.
Natalie, it truly was a surprise on the teeniest of calendars. A delight, a nugget if you will 🙂
Dear Joanne, what helpful treasures insights. I never thought about the distinction between wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. You explained it beautifully. Thank you for sharing your teeniest of nuggets!
When I read that last line of the Bible verse, I thought, “Yes! WE shape our kids into rare and beautiful treasures when we accept them as they are, guide them towards Jesus, and wait patiently for God to do a good work within them.” :). Thank you for sharing this with me today!
Yes, and beautifully worded, Anita! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!