The next few days are designed to be restful. Tomorrow morning – before the sun is up we will be headed east. We’ll pick up our Associate Pastor and his wife and drive til mid afternoon. Then we will enjoy the Elkhorn Resort for a few days as our district pastor’s retreat. Hopefully we will arrive back rested and ready for the next season of our church life.
May we have a time of grace and experience the goodness of God’s sabbath!
I was just reading in Josh and Sean McDowell’s book on “12 Unshakeable Truths”, a nugget on Proverbs 22:6. This verse is often loosely rendered, “train up a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it when they get older,” Most people take this to mean “get them into a good Sunday School, youth group and discipleship program.” None of these are bad things, but . . .
The word used for “training” a child uses the same word as an archer learning to shoot his bow. Each bow, in the days of the writer of Proverbs, was unique. Each bow had its own qualities and strengths. The archer had to learn how to use that bow effectively. When he switched to another bow, he had to shift his approach.
This verse actually talks about making sure you know your child thoroughly. To train up a child is to understand them well. They are different than other children we may have. What works for one doesn’t work for another. This is more about learning who your child is compared to figuring one size of “teaching and training” fits all!
Which begs from each of us the question, “Am I listening, observing and caring about each child I deal with?”
As stated by a friend of mine – Know your gifts and callings.
In just a few moments I will head over to a boardroom in our local hospital. Health Canada is sponsoring a forum discussion time – particularly aimed at working with parents to prevent drug use among youth.
The preparation materials have been interesting – pointing out that there is a problem. At one point, they mention that overly stressing this point makes teens think this is alright – everyone else is doing it. Other points include the fact that parents do hold a large place of influence in a youth’s life.
Those attending are expected to be front end personnel. Those who deal directly with abuse in our society.
As I say – should be interesting. There will, I’m sure be much discussion. The same discussion we have had a number of times in this community. I wonder what points of action we will be able to implement today?