I heard the crash and took a deep breath, expecting the wails that followed it. As I held ice to the newest goose egg on my son’s fair head, I asked, “Now, do you understand why I told you not to do that?”
Hard heads tend to learn the hard way, don’t they?
I spend my days admonishing, warning, begging my kids to listen to what I say. And, still they determine to learn the hard way. It’s not because they don’t fear falling.
It’s because sometimes they don’t “fear” me.
I’m not talking terror here. I’m talking good, old-fashioned respect. Reverence. The kind that causes obedience.
If they care that I say NOT to do something, they won’t have to worry about what will happen if they do.
Hmmm….
Sounds an awful lot like something Solomon once said.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7)
To fear the Lord, to respect him, to revere him is the beginning of wisdom in my life, as well as my kids’ lives. After all, He is the one who told them to obey their parents, right?
Listening to what the Lord says, obeying what he commands, keeps our feet from falling.
After all, “Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” (Proverbs 1:33)
Each day this month, I’ll be taking a look at a chapter in the book of Proverbs. Will you join me?
