“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
I spent decades working with teenagers and their parents. With rare exception many young adults would find life more rewarding and less difficult it they had taken their parents instruction to heart and when they desperately wanted to be smarter than them acquiesce to the fact that wisdom needs time and experience. That is what their parents had. In this verse Solomon does what many prophets and teachers did back in bible times and referred to his students as “son”. Also, in his day a mothers wisdom was viewed as being offered by the “weaker” sex and therefore often devalued by their sons. This turned out to be a very bad idea. Mothers are uniquely equipped by God to know not only their child’s personality and temperament but the pitfalls they are most susceptible too. Their counsel also most often comes from a place of pure love and compassion. Their interests have often been subjugated to their child’s since conception. What our mothers and grandmothers taught us and what our fathers continue to instruct us is seen as precious and of high value by Solomon. Obviously there are bad mothers and fathers. In those instances this is bad advice. God, through His family, has provided substitutes to fill those roles. Children and youth ministry in the Church is often the best place to find adults willing and in a position to fill this vital role. Today review what you were taught and what you are teaching and be sure to thank those who blessed you in this area of your story. #BeTheEdge
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,” 2 Timothy 3:14 NIV
