OTHER THAN THE LORD, WHO COMFORTS YOU WHEN YOU ARE HURTING?

SCRIPTURE:
Her children arise and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her.  
(Proverbs 31:28)

MEDITATION:
When you were little and hurt your knee or anything else, who did you want?
Chances are your dad was okay, but you really wanted to see your mom.
There is just something special about a mom 
and their ability to say and do the right things to ease the pain.
Dads are more prone to say something like, “Rub some dirt on it, you’re okay”.
It doesn’t mean the dads don’t care, they really do, 
but just have a different way of showing their concerns.

Why is there such a noticeable difference between moms and dads?
It’s pretty simple – God made each one the way they are. 
Consequently, He can fully appreciate the influence a Christian mother 
has in the molding of character in her children.

Many of the noble characters and great leaders 
have had upright and God-fearing mothers.
History reports that George Washington’s mother was a spiritual person.
Sir Walter Scott’s mother was a lover of poetry and music 
and he became a noted historical novelist, playwright and poet.
Conversely, Nero’s mother was a murderess 
and Lord Byron’s mother was a proud and violent woman.

The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. 
They know and absorb her example and attitudes 
in the areas of honesty, temperance, kindness and productivity.
You can detect their influence whenever you see a mother complaining 
about the things her child is doing, but you (and everyone else) know 
that he or she is doing some of the same things they have seen their mother do.
On the other side of the coin, you can see the mother’s influence 
when you observe a child mimicking the admirable qualities of their mom.

When children mature into admirable adults, fathers know the influence 
their wives have had on them, especially during the formative years.
As a result, 
they have the highest praise for their wives (even if they don’t verbalize it).

ACTION:
If you are a mom, embrace the special characteristics God has given you.
Realize the important role you play in the development of your children.
Dads need to avoid becoming exasperated when it appears to them that 
their wives are doting too much over their children when they scrape their knee.
Dads play a special role in the development of their children as well, 
it’s just different than the mom’s role.

Both parents have a responsibility to guide their children in loving the Lord.
I have participated in multiple group discussions and the consensus every
time was that children are more influenced by the actions of their parents, 
than they are by their words. 
 
For instance, if a parent takes a child to church but does not go themselves,
the child will grow up thinking (1) church attendance is not important 
(even though God’s Word tells us to meet together), 
or (2) there is an age when God no longer wants them to attend.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me with unique characteristics.
Help me to use them as you intended so that I will influence my children 
in a manner that is pleasing to You. Forgive me if I have influenced my 
children in the wrong way by my actions, habits and words. Show me how 
to correct any wrong influences I have had on my children. Thank You, 
Lord for setting the example for me to follow in order to please our Heavenly 
Father. Alert me whenever I stray from the guidelines You have established. 
As a child of Yours, remind me of how my life is a reflection on You. When 
I make decisions to live my life my way, I pray that You will give me a gentle
tug as a reminder that You want my dependence on You, and not my
independence (relying on myself and satisfying my desires).”