Courageous Joy

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Chapter 10

10:1 - "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother."

~Goal - to keep in sight on those days in the trenches when we seem to be plodding and sowing but not soaring and reaping.

10:9 "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out."

~You can't fool your family - children included. If you are a walking hypocrite, no parenting method or formula will produce wise and godly children. Children will imitate what they watch. If I do not love the Lord wholeheartedly, I can hardly expect to see my children love the Lord wholeheartedly.

10:10 - "He who winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will be ruined."

~Do not wink at character issues that need to be dealt with....pray, fast, train, but don't label character flaws as "cute".

~GUARD your mouth. I've seen so many women break trust with their husbands and children by talking too MUCH to their friends,their ladies Bible Studies group, email lists, etc. Gossip is gossip. NEVER gossip about your family. Make it your goal for your husband and children to be able to trust you with any confidence, knowing you will not spread their heart around to all your friends.

10:26 - "like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him."

~I must avoid laziness in parenting. What I don't deal with today, will be tomorrow's heartaches. Rest, play - yes.....laziness - No.