I'm Listening ... Even When I'm Not

Train a child in the way he should go, and

when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Let me explain the headline.

This week, I realized that I'd been listening to my father even when I didn't think I had been. 

He ate whole wheat bread way before it was cool.  He could have written a book on clean eating in the 1970s. We shopped at the health food store before there were natural grocery stores.

Sure, I took my vitamins and ate my vegetables. But I wasn't a health fanatic. I ate my fair share of cookies, ice cream and cola. You see, my mom was a moderate. She would bake whole wheat bread for my dad. Yet she didn't see anything wrong with making me chocolate milkshakes (with real ice cream) for breakfast.

Fast forward about 20 years as I try to combat a sinus infection. I'm drinking ginger tea three times a day, sipping miso soup and searching for probiotics -- all while I'm diffusing essential oils.

My husband said, "You're just like your dad."

Hmmm. Really? I never thought about it like that. I had changed. Somewhere along the line, I began believing in natural remedies and health food. My sister is the same way. And she's the one who pretended to take her vitamins while stockpiling them in her closet.

Then, I remembered Proverbs 22:6. Children do tend to act like their parents. Most children don't forget the daily teaching and examples of their parents.

I became encouraged.

You see, I have two tween boys. They don't always listen.

I hear these phrases a lot.

 "Huh?"  "What?"  "Hmmm.  Well I didn't hear you."

But my experience this week makes me realize that they are listening and observing even when they don't seem to be.

God and spiritual things are daily parts of our conversation. We listen to Christian music, go to church weekly and talk about our faith.

My boys will remember this when they are grown and old. 

Are proverbs iron-clad promises? No, they are principles. I'm sure we all know exceptions. 

However, my sister and I are both proof that training sometimes takes a long time. At times, we rolled our eyes and thought our dad had crazy tendencies. Yet give us 20 years, and we see he had some wisdom.

If you're in the midst of training children, grandchildren or even employees, take heart. Training isn't for wimps. Sometimes it takes years. That's OK.  Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Lord, I pray for these parents, teachers and mentors. Encourage them for the long haul.  Help them know they make a difference.

Stacy