Today’s Blog: There are Many Ways to “Parent” a Child
TODAY PROVERBS: The father of a righteous one rejoices greatly. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. Proverbs 23:24, TLV
I have a friend who taught in the Philadelphia school system for over 30 years. He never had physical children of his own. But, I would argue that he was a father to many. His students.
There are many men and women and couples who by choice or by challenge have no children of their own.
One in 8 couples have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a child to term.
Add to this those amazing folks who are single, that’s a lot of people who may never parent their own child (biological or adopted). Pregnancy may seem simple for some — for others it is devastatingly disappointing.
What does this have to do with this proverb?
So, what does this have to do with today’s proverb? I wanted to include those readers who feel excluded by passages like this. Verses that speak of parenting, giving birth, children.
Remember my teacher friend? He has been a “father” to hundreds and hundreds, maybe as many as a thousand children by teaching them. Not just the course curriculum, but how to think. To think for themselves, to think of others, to think reasonably.
For my sweet friends out there with no children (by birth or adoption), this passage includes you when you influence and mentor children. Whether as a teacher, foster parent, volunteer, babysitter, childcare giver, camp counselor, neighbor, etc., you can influence more children than a house could hold.
You, too, can rejoice greatly in a righteous and wise child that you have impacted with GOD’s wisdom. Your legacy does not have to end with you, but continue on in the lives of those who carry your earnest investment of faith, love, hope, and knowledge.
And for those with children, press in, parents. It’s worth every tear, sleepless night, prayer, and hope.
May all our “children” bring us joy, my friends.
Proverbs 23:24–Tree of Life Version – TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
