Courageous Joy

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Ch 17

*Note that I'm leaving out many excellent verses on a son's responsibility and focusing on what Proverbs says to ME about MY parenting.....remember too that these are devotional thoughts....you are journeying with me....we aren't inductively studying (yet).

17:1 "Better a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife."

~Isn't this appropriate for this week? ::snort::
~Seriously my aim is peace and quiet....not wealth and feasting

17:6 "Grandchildren are the crown of old men and the glory of sons is their fathers"

~live in a way so as to be someones glory

17:9 - 10 "He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than 100 blows into a fool."

~Don't break the trust of my family members
~Don't hold grudges against my family members
~Every infraction isn't grounds for a family meeting
~A child who has been taught and led to understanding will accept instruction/correction much better than one who hasn't been mentored.

17:14 "The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out!"

~THIS is not in MY nature but it something the Lord has taught me.
~Choose fights carefully; don't become a quarrelsome parent

17:15 "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous BOTH of them ALIKE are an abomination to the Lord."

~I mustn't justify my child's disobedience and/or sin; neither should I condemn a righteous CHILD for being CHILDISH. I need to train a child to become a young adult....not condemn my child.

17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones."

~Joy is not happy!

17:27 - 28 "He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."

~Don't wear my children out with words!
~There are times, even in parenting, to remain silent.