Growing Up

Scripture

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man,I did away with childish things.

~1 Corinthians 13:11, NASB

Quote

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

~Source Unknown

How much can a child appreciate and understand about their parents? You know the answer. A child has very little understanding of what is going on with the parent and probably not that much appreciation. Little children love their parents but their love is a childish need love. Little children often cling to parents and fear being separated but their love is childish and immature. Of course, as they grow up, they become more and more independent. For a child to become understanding, sympathetic and unselfish in their love for their parents takes time. It is incremental growth. At each new level of maturity our appreciation deepens and so does our love. Young parents tend to rush their children, always pushing them to advance to the next level. Be patient with the child, maturity takes time.

From the parent’s standpoint, how do we teach our children? By discipline, repetition, instruction and example. Will they absorb everything we teach? No! Can we enable them to take short cuts? Probably not! Coming out of adolescence, we think we know much more than our ignorant parents. Thank God, adolescence doesn’t last that long but even in early adulthood, we tend to think we are smarter than our parents. In some cases, we have more education or even more intelligence but that doesn’t mean we know more. We learn the basic lessons of life by living and our parents have lived longer and yes, they know things that could help us, but we are like the Israelites, we are not ready to listen. I didn’t listen to my own father so why should I expect my children to listen to me. I didn’t really respect my father’s opinion and advice because he was an uneducated man who could barely read. Out of seven children, I was the only one with a college degree and a masters to boot.  Being a college graduate does not make one wise. My arrogance cost me. I wake up with regrets almost every morning and much of it goes back to my arrogance and pride. Now that I am older, I am amazed at what my father knew. I see now how he tried to help me, but I was too stubborn and prideful to take his help. I sit here in my study and think about the things he told me; things he said would happen, but I didn’t pay any attention. Guess what, he was a prophet. How did he know what would happen? Experience: he learned the hard way just like I am learning the hard way. There is a better way and I do believe there are some who find it. Learn to respect your elders; they speak with the voice of experience. The sooner you learn to respect them, the better off you will be. You can mock them and laugh at them if you want but you may live long enough to regret it, just as I do. Trust me, I don’t want that to happen to you.

Concerning our Heavenly Father; I have come to believe that His way is always the best way. I am learning to listen to His voice and obey whether I understand His intentions or not. Life Jacob, I am learning to lean on Jesus and to worship. If His love is unconditional, and it is; and if He knows all things which He does, then why not listen to His voice and obey His commands. I trust Him because I am convinced that He loves me, and He wants the best for me.

Extra

Good crowd at worship last night. Doug did two songs that June and I had never heard and both were great. I am meeting with all the D-Seaver boys today in Huntsville for lunch. I am also enjoying the warm sunshine.

Busy weekend coming up for everyone. We are having breakfast at the POINT this Sunday at 8:30 and we have a Valentine Party at the Cottage in Hartselle Sunday at 2:00. Mrs. Edith Bennich resides there. We still cannot get into the Terrace so I have not seen Vellene in over a month. I did visit Riverside yesterday and I am very impressed. I told Hannah last night: if they put me in a home, that is the one I want to go to. I visited Virgina Penney and Agnes Hill. Mrs. Penny is 99 if my math is correct.

Kay Edmunson is in River City but he will be transferred to the veteran’s home in Huntsville in a week or so. Trust me, it is a huge upgrade. Jean Smith has an infection in her lungs and is under treatment. She was planning to come inside this Sunday and then this happened.

 

Notes and Quotes from cleaning my office

SIX PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

  1. Voice–“Hear Jesus”
  2. Venture–“Obey Jesus”
  3. Values–“Exalt Jesus” {Put Him first}
  4. Vision–“See Jesus”
  5. Vigilance–“Follow Jesus”
  6. Victory–“Celebrate Jesus.”

TOP TEN PERSECUTORS OF CHRISTIANS

{In terms of martyred Christians}

  1. The Soviet Union–28,980,000
  2. Islam–9,121,000
  3. Genghis Khan–5,750,000
  4. Roman Catholic Church–5,539,000
  5. Tamerlane–5,079,000
  6. Nazis–3,900,000
  7. China–3,300,000
  8. Roman Empire–2,101,750
  9. Japan–1,175,000
  10. North Korea–1,000,000

{These notes are probably 20 years old so North Korea and China probably have much higher numbers as well as Islam. As you can see above, Marxism and Christianity do not mix}

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