Proverbs 1:8-9

Hear, my son, your father's instruction
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.

Hehe...can I use this on my children?!  To learn wisdom, to start, learn from your parents!  Sometimes that may be what "not" to do, but whatever right?!  The truth is that as parents we have a big job.  We have to raise the next generation.  Some people take this too lightly! 
We have a responsibility to ourselves, our children, and future generations to get this right!  Now, my kids are only 2 & 1, so I'm no expert by far, but parenting is hard.  I watch my parents as they struggle with my sisters and I.  Watch them learn what it means to parent adult children.  Every child is different and every child is going to make mistakes. 
But these verses are so true.  My parents are AWESOME.  They have provided for us the best they can.  They are always there when you need to talk.  They are generous, loving, truthful, and caring.  I hope that I can parent the way they have. 
Think about the things your parents have taught you.  If you'd have listened to them, what would you have been like as an adult?  I know there are things my parents told me that I didn't listen to.  In the end I made mistakes I shouldn't have, did things I never would have otherwise. 
So for all you still living under the roof of your parents house...sometimes that wisdom, instruction, or teaching your parents give you is actually for your own good!

Proverbs 1:2-7...Just the Beginning

To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to recieve instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth--
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obrain guidance,
to undertand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Life is hard.  It always will be, for everyone, no matter what you have, what you do, it will always be hard.  We live in a sinful world.  Sometimes it's like we have a blindfold on, we are spun around and around, then still blindfolded we are asked to walk in a straight line.  Not gonna happen folks.  But that doesn't mean we don't try. 

We aren't perfect, we never will be, not until we join Him in heaven.  But while we are here, desperately trying to walk that straight line, God has given us His Word to lead us.  I believe that Proverbs is a great place to start.  It's full of Wisdom.  It says that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge".  Knowledge is understanding the world around us and understanding that we are God's children.  But wisdom is something more than that.  It's taking this knowledge and applying it.  We are children of God and He's called us to a higher purpose.

Proverbs gives us practical knowledge that we can in turn apply and become wise.  The wisdom in this book is practical, it makes us think, it helps us stay straight on our path when things get difficult. 

I find that in many situations of our lives, "There is a Proverb for that"!  It's true!  So I'm going to study these Proverbs, seeking to grow in knowledge and grow wise!  At least...that is the goal!