Wisdom in the Proverbs...

Good Morning! Lately, my quiet time with the Lord has been spent reading in the Proverbs. I love the wisdom that we can glean from these verses. Today I was reading in chapter 17. There were 4 vrses that really stuck out to me. They were verses 6, 14, 17 & 22.

Verse 6: "⁶ Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."   As a grandparent, this verse struck me because I do believe that my grandchildren are a crown to my gray-hidden hair.  (thank the Lord for hair stylists that do color.  *smiles*)  There is such a sense of pride in each of my 8 grandchildren when I see them or have the privilege to watch them in a play or playing a sport.  I love how having grandchildren helps me to not dislike growing older quite as much.  I love seeing my own children in their children.  It helps me to see some of their growing up years again.  And as I look at the second part of that verse, I do want to be a sense of pride for my children.  I want them to look at me and my hubby and be proud of us...not embarrassed or disgusted or ashamed.  When  I look at my parents, I am so proud to be their daughter.  I am so thankful that God allowed me to be their daughter.  I am thankful for the family I grew up in.  God could have chosen to give me to parents that didn't love me or take care of me...but He chose MY mom & dad for ME!  I pray that my kids will have similar feelings when they look at me.

Verse 14:  "¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."  I read this verse and thought of the 'managed' flooding of the midwest.  We (in the midwest) were flooded because the Corp of Engineers in the North 'let the water' out of the dams in order to keep them from breaking and flooding everything.  Well, at least that's the way I understand what happened.  Had the prevailing powers not let the water out of the dams up North...the devastation would have been greater than it was.  I compare that to verse 14.  When we 'start a quarrel,' we are letting the water out...so to speak.  I know there have been times when I have been in a bad mood...for no apparent reason...I'm just in a bad mood.  When this happens, I am so quick to 'jump' down the throat of someone, usually my poor hubby.  Now this hasn't happened for some time, but I know in the past I have created a huge mountain out of a little mole hill...all because I didn't just let something drop.  I am thankful that God has allowed me to grow in wisdom over the years concerning this.

Verse 17:  "¹⁷ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."  This is a verse that we all have heard a million times in our life.  It is true.  Friends can be fickle.  Even our 'family' can be somewhat fickle, but let me tell you...they will stick by you.  See, I can gripe and complain about my brother, but let me tell you...you better not say anything about him or I'm coming unglued on you!  Isn't that just like us all?  Yes, our family will always be by our side...and this isn't necessarily just our 'blood' family.  Sometimes, our 'blood' family isn't the best and we find true family with others.  That's ok...the proverb is still true.  A brother will stick by you while a friend can be very fickle!

Finally, verse 22:  "²² A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  I love this verse.  I am so glad that God gave us a sense of humor.  Now that doesn't mean that you need to laugh and giggle all the time, but being cheerful - inward and outward - is certainly more pleasant than being grumpy and serious all the time.  My dad, bless his heart, is the laughingest man I've ever known.  The man will tease you and tease you.  He is quick witted and will always have a funny remark to say that will make you laugh.  My mom...bless her heart just gets tired of his teasing so much.  Now I'm not saying she has a crushed spirit...not by any means...she is just more serious than my dad.  Oh, but she does get 'cheerful' sometimes.  I love when she gets tickled at something.  She is such a beautifil lady and when she laughs...you can truly see God in her.  I am thankful that my parents taught me how to have a cheerful heart.  Life is hard enough and having a cheerful heart makes the hard times easier.  I can't imagine living this life without a cheerful heart and a good sense of humor!

Well, those are my thoughts for this Thankful Thursday.  I hope you have enjoyed reading these verses from Proverbs.  They certainly made my day! 

Blessings to you,