The
Sage
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"Parents Growing Up"
A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
But a mocker does not listen to rebuke."
Proverbs 13:1
It is amazing how much smarter fathers seem to get the older their children get! I think of some of the instruction I received from my father as I was growing up. There are many things Dad said when I was younger that didn't seem to make sense that now seems very wise. This is especially true in the area of what I would call "negatives." The "no" statements, where he would prohibit me from doing something I wanted to do. Or, and I hated to hear this, that his way of doing something was a better way than my way of doing it. I, of course, didn't like to hear any of these, but some of them seemed senseless. I often felt what I wanted to do, or the way I wanted to do it, was right and his way couldn't possibly be right. The funny thing is, I found myself giving my father's same advice to my three children, and it seems to be wise counsel now.
Why is it that it takes so long to wake up to this wise counsel? Why do some appear to never wake up? Some, no matter how old or how many children, never realize the wisdom of a parent? It is obvious that a child would not understand as much as a parent. A child cannot understand their parent's concern for them in regards to dangers revealed by experience. So how do you get your children to listen to your wisdom? It is only by building trust so they will honor and respect you even when they don't understand. And don't give up trying to teach them, even if they occasionally mock you when you tell them, "no" for their own good.
David Bearden
St. Louis, MO