Essentially, we must face that it is difficult to find—and then faithfully apply—wisdom to our parenting.
“As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to [her] folly” (Proverbs 26:11).
Dr. Slattery writes, “Staying focused on wisdom is only possible when we are invested in seeking God through the process of parenting rather than evaluting our success in theresult of parenting.”
Do you turn to God only when times are tough and you need Him? When things are going well with your children, are you self-sufficient? Is it too hard to change any of your bad parenting methods? Do you project any of your emotional needs into your mothering?
We can find fulfillment from pleasing God, and can depend on Him to equip us for our roles—rather than seeking significance, value, friendship, security and love from our parenting.
Dr. Slattery concludes: "Do you really want to parent guilt-free? If so, then remember that trusting God is a daily commitment to changing according to His wisdom. At many times in motherhood, wisdom sounds too difficult, too painful and too time-consuming, which is precisely why so few people faithfully live by the life-giving principles that are available to everyone.
Oh, Lord, may we learn to hate our foolishness as much as we hate vomit!"
What Do You Think?
- What is the difference between being naive and being foolish? Why is foolishness like a dog returning to its vomit?
- What do you think of the caricatures presented in the chapter? Why are a mother’s needs so easily projected onto the job of parenting?
- How can needs keep you from embracing wisdom?
- Read Proverbs 1:20-33. What will happen to the fools and the naive who do not listen to wisdom? What do these warnings mean to you as a mother?
- Solomon’s life disproves the old adage: “with age comes wisdom.” If Solomon can fall away from wisdom, so can any of us. How might the success wisdom brings be a temptation for you to someday abandon her? Give some examples.
Digging for Wisdom
- With all the wisdom Solomon left to us, the greatest warning comes from his own life. Read I Kings 9:1-9 and 11:1-13. Which principles of wisdom, from his own pen, did Solomon disregard? (Fear of the Lord, Productivity, Uncompromising Integrity, Positive Relationships, Openness to Feedback, Self-Control, Eye to the Future)
- Read I Chronicles 28:9-10 and 29:10-20. What heritage and charge did David leave to his young son Solomon? Now read I Kings 11:29-43. What heritage did Solomon leave to his sons? David sinned too. Why did God continue to honor David in spite of his sin, yet we see no such restoration at the end of Solomon’s life?
- Assuming Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes at the end of his life, how do you think the events of his old age impacted the advice he gives about the limits of wisdom and the vanity of human wisdom and success?
We will meet this Thursday, November 29, from 9.30 – 11.30am at 2/F Island ECC. Refreshments and childcare provided.