Today's Devotional

January 15, 2003

Subject: Oh Foolish Child

Proverbs 17:25 - "A foolish son is a grief to his father , and bitterness to her that bare him."

The pressure of parenting is huge.  Mothers often feel like their children have to "turn out" okay or they have failed.  Fathers feel like their sons have to be "real men" and that their daughters have to either marry well or become productive in their own right.  I've often wondered what kind of  children grow up without the same type of pressure on them to please their parents.  In our society it's quite evident that this is often the case.  Stories of physical and sexual abuse abound and even in homes where that's not necessarily happening, many children grow up with a hostile resentment towards their parents.  

Of course the commandment tells us to "honor they mother and father..." but these children miss the mark.  It doesn't say, honor them if they treat you the way that you should be treated.  The prodigal dishonored his father by striking out on his own.  His foolishness was soon realized and he returned to the father.

Today we should all consider not only the grief we may be placing on our earthly father but on our heavenly father as well.  Let's pray for wisdom that we might not be bitterness to Him or our moms.

Carlen