Proverbs 29:15 (ESV)
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
NOTE: I've been married a long time. I've come to the conclusion that the judgment against the woman in the garden of Eden -- pain in childbirth -- is really a hint at the real judgment, pain in child rearing. Even when your children are grown up and old, you worry and are concerned about the decisions they make. For some reason, men seem to be less affected, but still affected, so it is appropriate the verse mentions the mother. A mother's heart is tied to her children for as long as she or they live. She feels their hurts, their bad decisions, their foolishness. We disciplined our children when they were young. They did go astray in their own ways for a time, but ultimately are now living for God in good marriages. Still, they are sinners, just like me, and they allow the culture to affect them, just like me. And when they do really foolish things, it is the mother who carries most of the pain. While God primarily uses the imagery of a father in his relationship to us, he also uses the imagery of a mother. So when we are foolish, God's heart is wounded by our actions.
PONDER:
- Does my lifestyle please God?
- Am I bringing pain to God by the choices I make? He loves me deeply and so much desires I do what is right.
PRAYER: Father, I fail you like my children fail me at times. Forgive me. I know the hurt, maybe not as much as my wife does, but I know what it is like to see my children make bad choices. I want to thank you for where they are now. I pray they would be zealous in their relationship with you. I pray you would be first in all that they do.
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