One of the books of the Bible that I’ve always gotten a lot from is Proverbs. Knowledge is important in this life but wisdom is infinitely more important. Wisdom is defined as  

the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

This is what Proverbs is all about. It’s about not only knowing the right thing to do but also doing it. My plan is to start working through a proverb a day on this blog. I’m going to start with Proverbs 10:1 which is the beginning of the proverbs of Solomon. Proverbs 10:1 says…

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

One of the things that has really taken me back when it comes to parenting is the increasing lack of control I have over what my kids do. Now, they’re 2 and almost 4 so I still have a lot of control but that window will not be open forever. The goal of parenting is not to make them increasingly more reliant upon me but rather less reliant on me. Abbi and I are trying our best to equip them daily with the tools that they need for life. 

One of my biggest hopes for the future is that Isaac and Jonathan will become the men that they were created to be. It’s not a given that they will become wise and honorable men but I know that I have a lot of responsibility when it comes to who they will become. Parenting seems to be a continual lesson in learning how much you don’t know. It has really caused me to humble myself before God more than anything else. These two little guys looking to me every day for their marching orders helps me see how much I need God’s grace on a daily basis. I can pretend all day long in front of adults that I have it all together but there is no pretending with kids. With the age of my kids right now, I obviously don’t spend a ton of time thinking about whether they’ll be wise or foolish but I know a day is coming when they’ll have to start making their own decisions.  I recognize that I can’t equip them on my own and that I need God’s grace to help me do that. It’s amazing how much having kids leads you to having faith like a child. I need my Father in heaven to teach me to be the father that my kids need.

For the parents out there…how has being a father or a mother changed your perspective on life?