9/25/2015 – Thank You for Being Great Parents!
Greetings everyone,
I would like to apologize for my absence. I have been going through quite a bit. I have been having a hard time adjusting to my mother being gone. Although I have a great support group, awesome wife, children, Dad, and siblings, God has been my anchor. I recently joined a group at my church called Grief Share. This group has been extremely helpful and has allowed me to reach out to some of my old colleagues and friends from the past.
This past weekend was my mom’s 73rd birthday. We each attempted celebrate and deal with her loss in our own special way. However, I am sure that my dad took it the hardest. I love him so much and I have always saw him as my hero, for what he has done to keep us together and to teach my brother and I how to be men.
This brought me to the Word and how God always has a message within each situation. Therefore, I will be taking words from one of my study Bible’s and sharing it with you. I pray that the information is received within your heart and God’s word stirs you to act.
From the New Student Bible (NKJV):
Book: Proverbs
Year Written: Sometime around 900 BC
Author: King Solomon
Purpose: According to gotquestions.org, “Knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, but wisdom is the ability to see people, events, and situations as God sees them. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.”
Proverbs is often considered a Father’s Guidance Book. “Its education prepares you for the street and the marketplace, not the school.” “…Fifteen times the father voice says, “My son”.”
Prov. 1:8 (NIV) – Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Prov. 6:20 (NIV) - My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
“The overwhelming emphasis of Proverbs is on verbal encouragement and teaching. The whole book is framed as a father’s words to his son, teaching him those “facts of life” that have nothing to do with biology.” Consider Prov. 17:6 (NIV) Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Basically, this explains that “parents and children are not meant to be adversaries, but allies in life who are proud of each other.”
As I reflect on my mother and how she emphasized the importance of having God in our lives, I am truly grateful. She often quoted Prov. 22:6(NIV) - Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. She also quoted Prov. 13: 24 (NIV) - Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them; and Prov. 29:15 (NIV) - A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
I won’t burden you in my first return with the details from Matthew Henry’s Commentary, but if you journey to https://www.biblegateway.com/. You will be able to connect to the commentaries for yourself. However, to save time, I will be honest. My mother ensured that she whooped our butts and made sure that we attended church as often as possible. I truly believe that had it not been for the reproof and instruction from my parents. I would not have been able to accept the Lord and his grace. I definitely would not be where I am today.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I have a deep hole in my heart. I miss my mom dearly and I love my dad beyond words. God has provided a double portion of blessings, my mother is in heaven and my dad is hear with us continuing to teach us while strengthening his walk with the Lord, so that they both will be together in heaven.
I pray that God richly blesses you and your family.
