Day Twenty Six
An Ideal Wife And Mother
Proverbs 31:28...Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying]...
Over the last few years, we have heard much talk regarding prayer being taken out of the schools. There are several different emails that have been circulating during this time, each one speaking of the problems that have arisen in our schools as a result of the absence of prayer, pointing out that our kids basically wear what they want, are involved in questionable activities, have abortions, can obtain condoms at school, and many being caught carrying weapons, etc. There are also a couple different email articles about the Ten Commandments being taken out of the schools and government buildings, as well as generally being lost to our nation. When the 9/11 tragedy occurred, we heard one minister saying that this came against our country as a result of prayerlessness in schools.
Proverbs 22:6...Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4...Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and counsel and admonition of the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:14-15...But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you have learned [them].
And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, and goodness].
When Paul and I were raising our daughter, Rachael, we had her in church from the time she was born. We attended a specific church for at least 15 years, and she was in Sunday School and Children's Church regularly. We always thought that because of and through attending, we were training Rachael up in godly ways. We bought her little Christian books, a children's bible and even some sing along tapes with bible stories. But the majority of her learning about Jesus and Christianity did not come from us. We had actually relinquished to others the responsibility to train up our child in the way of God; that in fact, Sunday School and Children's Church should compliment what she was already being taught at home. What Rachael did learn from us, though, was compromise. And we watched our daughter begin to make the same destructive and disobedient choices that we made. However, through repentance and humbling ourselves before God, He transformed all of our lives.
As we mentioned in an earlier devotional, today, we watch as our son-in-law and daughter 'train up their children in the way they should go'. Hannah, the 3 year old (2003) is a worshipper. We have witnessed her actually moving things out of the way so that she will have plenty of room to move around. She sways back and forth, closing her eyes, and throws her little arms up in the air in praises to God, while singing along with the music. Our oldest granddaughter, Madison, was having problems with fear. So, she would raise her little hand and point her finger and say, "Go, in Jesus' Name". And the fear left! Our daughter began to recognize the 'individual talents, or bents', as Proverbs says, and she and her husband encourage and teach them the Word. At a young age, they are being taught their authority over the enemy, they are being taught about Jesus, they are being taught the path of God, they are being taught to worship. And while they are clearly too young to understand the reason to worship, their little spirits are automatically drawn to it. Can you imagine the heart of the Father as He watches these babies in innocent worship? They will, though, take the occasional break and run over to get a drink from their juice cup .
One day, Rachael told me something that brought tears to my eyes. Madison and Hannah had been arguing. While Rachael was in the other room, she observed Madison go over to Hannah and tell her she was sorry, and then walked back across the room. Hannah then walked over to Madison, put her hand on her and bowed her head to pray. When I heard this, my heart melted and tears filled my eyes. At this young age, they are learning humility, forgiveness and prayer. Now I realize that these are just small children and that they had probably been fussing at each other over a toy...but...train up a child in the way that it should go...
The issues that we face in this nation are the fruit of sin and turning away from God, of walking in our own wisdom, our own ways. Taking prayer and the Ten commandments out of schools and the government has been undoubtedly detrimental, but is only a symptom of the problem. While we loudly proclaim that more education is needed to combat the issues in our schools, have we neglected teaching the rudimentary Truths of God? Have we taught our children how to go to church instead of how to 'be the Church', learning to walk the paths of God instead of the paths of this world?
We can be very good parents by showing our children proper attention, meeting their physical needs, putting a roof over their heads, clothing them, feeding them, doing activities with them and just generally loving them. That is our responsibility as parents. But we also have a responsibility to guide them spiritually and teach them God's Word. As they grow older and begin to face challenges and temptations in their lives, we can then stand on and trust His promise...when they are old, they will not depart from it...if we have given them a firm foundation.
As parents, Paul and I are proud of Gerald and Rachael for providing a good and loving home for those babies. But our hearts rejoice as we watch them taking spiritual responsibility and teaching them, even now, how to trust God, how to forgive, how to pray, how to worship. And also, as mentioned before, there are times when Rachael and I talk by phone, and I can hear the weariness in her voice, with patience being worn thin by daily dealing with 3 small children who are arguing and fussing. But the fruit of training them shows already in their young lives...what an honor...what a call...what an ideal mother!
Deuteronomy 6:5-7...And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.
And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your minds and hearts; [then]
You shall whet and sharpen them as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
A hearts' cry...Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments...For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you...Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the inner most parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table...Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord...Psalm 128:1-4.