As I meditate on Proverbs 1:8-9, I do not only see my children’s responsibility, I also see my responsibility as a parent. My responsibility is to ensure the laws I put in place are good and will ultimately be graceful to them. God, our heavenly father does not ask us to do what he has not already equipped us for. He makes obedience and doing His will easy, so we can enjoy the benefits of being his children (1 John 5:3, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 4:13). Consequently, we must do our part to make it easy for our children to honor us and experience God’s promises concerning obedience to parents.
After meditating, I did further studies using Bible commentaries. The commentaries on Proverbs 1:8-9 are interesting.
Gill’s Exposition states:
Every mother of a child, who having an equal or greater tenderness for her offspring, and a true and hearty regard for their welfare, will instruct them in the best manner she can, give the best rules, and prescribe the best laws she can for their good; and which ought to be as carefully attended to and obeyed as those of a father; and she is particularly mentioned, because the law of God equally enjoins reverence and obedience to both parents, which human laws among the Gentiles did not; and because children are too apt to slight the directions and instructions of a mother; whereas they carry equal authority, and have in them the nature of a law, as those of a father.
Gill’s commentary is so good! Let’s reflect on the commentary: I have noticed that the little one follows his father’s instructions more quickly than he follows mine. Is this very common? There is so much to draw from in this commentary. Please share your thoughts on the commentary.
Thank you!
Hi Temi !
Good post.
I smiled when you said that the little one follows your husband’s instructions more readily than your own.
This is exceedingly common, although, for sure, it perplexes moms.
Children often reserve their ‘naughty’ behaviour for their moms. 🤗
However, this should not make us feel insecure.
It is just that children need someone with whom they can feel completely safe, and generally, but not always, this role is reserved for their moms, who are often emotionally closest to them.
Of course, the discipline of children is most effective when both parents work together as a team, and have the same standards of what behaviours they will allow from their children.
We all need a totally safe person, with whom we are free to ‘let it all hang out’, and very frequently, for children, this is their mom. 🤗🌷
I love love your comment! You took me to class. Yes, it often baffles me. These days, I give up and call his father. Thank you for the reflective comment.❤️
Hello Temi, this is very encouraging to parents. I think that many parents get in the mindset of teaching children their responsibility. Many times we need to slow down and remember our roles and responsibility to parenthood. Children are a true blessing from our Lord and as we have been blessed with them we must remember to be obedient to God. Thanks for the words of wisdom.
Yes! you are right. We should focus more on doing our part. We need to pause and reflect. Thank you for the reflective comment.
Thanks for sharing these lessons sis. 🤗 And loved reading the comments too.
I love the comment section as well 🙂
Personally I struggle with all this discipline stuff. I’m one of those who threw the “baby out with the bathwater” as they say, when I rejected the destructive way my parents did things… Then as a single parent the rule-book didn’t work either… and I’m still learning, though my children are grown-up and my Grandchildren are here… I’m still praying for understanding about it all. x
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It takes God’s help and patience. Yes, we need to keep praying for understanding. We must never stop learning .