Lessons from our parents

Be blessed Proverbs 1 vs 8-9

“MY son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.”

I think we can all testify to remembering something significant that our parents taught us, we all have lessons that stand out that we hold on to, and that always pop up in our memory during moments of consternation.

I specifically remember my mother telling me that even if I am unwell, I must try by all means to not let my sorrow drain the world. Be as bright as you can possibly be, she said.

Whether right or wrong, that’s something I was taught. As I have grown and have had the opportunity to meet a multitude of people, I have observed that nothing can be more displeasing than to deal with a gloomy and moody person, who drains the life out of everyone.

Just before his passing, King David emphasised to his son Solomon the virtues of being strong as a man, following GOD’s instructions and walking in His ways, and keeping His Laws and His Word.

He also taught him to walk before GOD in truth, to forgive, show kindness and more importantly, to always act with wisdom.

This was an important lesson that Solomon would one day remember. The bible says he asked of the LORD and he received wisdom, and with that wisdom and grace the world looked up to him as he did the amazing and the unthinkable.

But for a moment in the glory of his success he forgot the lessons that his father had taught him, and began to believe that he was responsible for his majesty and success. In a moment of madness and influence, he abandoned the LORD despite all He had done for him and began to worship other gods.

What a brazen error he made, because this resulted in the glory of the LORD departing from him. We are all somewhat like that, in that very few of us are able to remain anchored in GOD’s ways when we become successful. We waiver and we become so intoxicated by the praise we receive that we soon depart from His presence entirely.

We totally forget all the lessons we were taught and that were repeated for our benefit. In that one moment of ill-judged decision making, our lives are never the same.

We are called to remember that everything starts and ends with GOD, and that for as long as we are within His realm we have a hedge of protection regardless of whatever we may be experiencing.

Let us hold on to the promises and to the lessons we have been taught and instead of distancing ourselves from God, let’s strengthen our hold on His every word.

The Lord intends for all of us to succeed but that success should be based on firmly holding on to every word that floweth from His mouth. When we do that, we will continue to grow and not perish.

Remember the lessons from your youth.

REFLECTIONS OF A WORK IN PROGRESS . . . For more info: Visit our website: www.thefig-tree. org; e-mail us on info@thefig-tree.org; catch us on StarFM, Monday to Friday at 0620hours.