Scheduled Reading:
Nehemiah 9:38-10:39; Psalm 102:9-15; Proverbs 20:27-29; Romans 5:6-21
Selected Passage:
Proverbs 20:29
Oh to be young again! Well, young coupled with the wisdom gained from years of experience! However, I've heard countless people say they'd never want to go back to the teenage years. I couldn't agree more! The proverb says that the glory of the young is their strength. Hollywood knows that quite well. In fact, our entertainment and advertising is full off images containing young men and women proudly displaying their... strength. Yet, so many of those strong, young bodies are engaging in such foolish behavior that it will soon sap them of their strength and age them beyond their years. Eventually, they too will comprehend the saying "Too soon old, too late wise."
But the splendor of the old is in their crowns of gray. Unlike fleeting youthful strength and stamina, wisdom grows exponentially with age. I remember well the influences of my teenage years and young adulthood. My own dad among them. He taught me many lessons by word and example, many of which I reference in messages I teach or preach. He taught me well the principle of running toward those with whom I may have conflict instead of away - so that we may be reconciled. Often his advice seemed right to my young mind, but somehow irrelevant. Oh, but now... now it is so much more fully understood, appreciated, and oft repeated to my own young son and daughter.
Who was for you that invested in your young life by taking the time to speak wisdom into your heart? What was it they said or did that stuck with you. Did it make sense at the time?
I'll comment on my own post in a moment about one such memory for myself. I'd love it if you'd follow suit!
My scoutmaster, Mr. B, was fond of saying to us boys, after we'd respond to something he said with "Huh?": "Huh? Pig say huh! Pull his tail and he say Uh huh!" I remember how we'd look to each other in vain searching for some way to understand what the man was trying to say. Then, eventually, we'd get up and do whatever it was he said to do to which we had originally responded with "huh?". We heard. He called us pigs and pulled our tails. Then we did what he said to do. :) I loved that man.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat comment was supposed to go with "The Road to Hope"!
ReplyDelete