A Daily Dose of Proverbs

I recently took on an eleven-day challenge to follow a prescribed nutrition regime, exercize twenty minutes a day, connect daily with one or more others on my team, get seven hours of sleep, drink three litres of water daily, give up one bad habit, and take on one good habit.  It was great. 

My exercise consisted of walking home from work and using a dance-mat to follow coreographed steps on a screen.  The discipline was good for me.  I felt healthy, vibrant, and alive-- all this in the middle of winter! 

The habit I gave up was watching movies every night and the habit I took on was reading two books of Proverbs daily, preferably in the morning before work.  I discovered that reading Proverbs, for me, was tedious.  Very.

To make the reading more interesting to me I began looking for patterns.  I noticed that most verses said the same thing twice, with some variation.  I am told this is called in literary terms "chiasmus".

Here is an example:  Proverbs 2: 11 "Discretion shall preserve thee,
                                                        Understanding shall keep thee:"

I appreciated some insights from my aging father on some of the passages.  He remarked that Proverbs 2:16, which reads, "To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;" referred to falseness and that flattery is the "hard way disguised as the easy way".

I well remember my first encounter with the "hard way versus the easy way" concept.  I had taken my second daughter, then age eight, to the eye doctor for the first time.  This particular child was famous in our household for refusing to imbibe prescribed medications.  My husband and I typically teamed up to hold her arms (one of us) and administer the dose (the other of us).  It could grow to wrestling match proportions.  So here we were at the pediatric opthamologist's office needing to apply eye-drops to dilate her pupils.  I generously offered my assistance.  To my chagrin, the doctor asked me to leave the room.  I was border-line mortified.  To my surprise he too stepped out of the room in less than a minute, smiling and unruffled, and the job was done.  There was no squalling and thrashing about.  There were no artificial restraints applied.  How did he accomplish this, I wanted to know.  He said, "It was simple.  I asked her if she would like to do this the hard way or the easy way.  She chose the easy way."

This changed everything at our house.  Now we knew the secret incantation.  "Do you want to do this the hard way or the easy way?"  We found that our children were very motivated by the opportunity to be in charge of their own choices.  When it was bedtime they could do it "the hard way" (be carried to bed and dressed in p.j.'s by us), or "the easy way" (go by themselves and get themselves ready for bed).  When it was time to get dressed in the morning they could choose "the hard way" (we chose the clothes and set the pace), or "the easy way" (they chose).  This amazing trick could be manipulated to work in almost every instance.

Proverbs 4:7 intones that, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."  The process of gaining parenting wisdom is circuitous and serendipitous.  It's as if we're alsways spinning the radio tuner to catch the channel or sound bite that will be helpful with a particular child and your own or your husband's particular nature, seeing as how we didn't come with instruction books.  Or did we?  We have the scriptures, classic literature, the gift and guidance of the Holy Ghost, and the insights and experience of family, friends, and professionals.  I like to think of the Gift of the Holy Ghost as my "tuning fork" to that which I need to learn.

Speaking of instructions, in Proverbs 6:16-19 are found, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

I have heard learning described as occuring in four phases-- the first being the "core phase" wherein is learned right vs. wrong, good vs. bad, and so forth.  The early years of childhood afford opportunities to encounter and identify these seven traits and learn why and how to avoid them and acquire self-control.  All other learning is dangerous in the hands and lives of those who have not chosen to take the Lord's word and honor his loving and righteous desires for us, His children. 

May we be examples for good in the lives of our children, our neigbors, our associates.  May we learn wisdom.  May we choose the better path.  May we take the "easy way" of responsible choice and self-control.  May our tuning fork be ever receptive to the Holy Ghost.  May we quickly repent of actions the Lord finds abominable. 

How fitting that the Book of Proverbs ends with what my young adult daughter calls her "Power Scripture".  She finds strength and inspiration reading Proverbs 31:10-31, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."  Notice the description of her character.  Notice her desires and actions.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forh her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

My personal Power Proverb is Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"  So let it be said, so let it be done.