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For the Family Parenting

When We Want Our Kids to Listen to Instruction {Parenting through Proverbs: Proverbs 19:20}

parenting through proverbs

It’s a familiar scene: Your child disobeys, disregards your instruction, and finds himself in trouble. Incredulous at their lack of discernment and foolishness, you sit him down and deliver a passionate, heartfelt lecture that is meant to persuade him toward obedience in the future and to respect your authority in the matter. You get blank stares and distant acknowledgement and wonder:  Do they hear our counsel? Do they listen to instruction?

And while those words of urging are needed, we sometimes make the lecture the punishment — the consequence that must be endured — rather than the instruction to receive.

We reduce instruction to a sprint-like lecture rather than marathon tutoring. 

You see, lectures are one-sided deliveries. They are power-packed with information and require the listener to take notes, because the test is coming. But tutoring is another thing entirely. With its back and forth, question and answer, one step forward – two steps back — tutoring is a progressive journey that invites conversation and demonstrates in action.

Tutors guide and direct; they are unwilling to go on to the next level until mastery is reached at the foundation:

Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.  – Proverbs 19:20

The tone found in the Proverbs is the tone of faithful correction and counsel. But I — a weary mother so often bent on satisfying my momentary need for peace and all to be right with the world — often choose to give counsel and correction with impatience, disappointment, and an expectation of immediate mastery. I forget that motherhood is a marathon and not a sprint.

Could it be that the wisdom and instruction we so long for our children to receive really begins with us, considering how God instructs us? How he meets us in our sinful waywardness and rebellion, and firmly and lovingly directs our hearts to truth? His instruction and counsel is sweet because He teaches us according to His character. 

Friends, let us be pliable under the instruction and counsel of the Word of God, ourselves, that we might gain wisdom in the marathon of instructing and leading our children to a true and living knowledge of God.

**The “Accept Instruction” print is available for purchase at GraceLaced Shoppe.**

Because of grace,

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www.gracelaced.com

 

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About Ruth Simons

It's only by the grace of God that Ruth considers motherhood to 6 wonderful boys a high and worthy calling. She's been married 15 years to her headmaster husband, who was formerly a pastor for 10 years. She educates her children at home through the model of University-Model Schooling, at a Classical Christian school they were part of founding. She considers it a privilege to teach and live out the Gospel with them at home. When not busy with family, she loves to paint, sew, garden, cook for a crowd, travel, and redecorate her girlfriends’ homes. Ruth blogs at www.gracelaced.com, where she writes about the many moments in which the Gospel intersects daily life. Connect with Ruth on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

« Words You Speak Now Become the Voice Your Child Hears Later
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Comments

  1. Mandy W says

    November 10, 2014 at 12:21 am

    Have you been hiding in my son’s bedroom while I dole out the punishment of a lecture, met by his blank stares and distant acknowledgement? Lol! Oh, how this message spoke to me! I find that I want to keep speaking until I see a light go on for him…that he sees that I am right and wise, acknowledges his wrong-doing and repents, and we finish with a cheerful hug, a prayer, and his thankfulness for my wisdom and guidance. Now this sounds silly as I type it out, but I think I really do hope for just that. I am definitely praying for wisdom as I go through the marathon of motherhood. Thanks for sharing!

Hey there! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We are absolutely thrilled you are here! We are a crazy church planting couple who loves Jesus, our four kids and loads of coffee! We are giving God the glory every step of the way and love sharing our journey with you.

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