Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 22:6, Grow them with the Grain

by Marilynn Chadwick

“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 AMPC

Proverbs 22:6 became one of my “go to” parenting principles. I discovered early on that one of the best things I could do for my children was to study them. What delighted them? How did they best learn? Proverbs 22:6 reveals that every child has a “way” or path he or she should go. This path will vary according to their God-given gifts, talents, and temperament.

For example, education should be a delight, not drudgery, and yet for many children, learning is a source of pain and confusion. What works for one child doesn’t for another. One of the most exciting parts of mothering for me was to watch the amazing characteristics that began to emerge in each child.

Ours are now grown with children of their own. But their “gifts and bent,” as described in Proverbs 22:6, were apparent from an early age. Bethany had amazing people skills, a grasp of languages, and a love for learning. DB was a strategic thinker, good with math, and was shooting trash through lampshades at two, giving clues about his love for basketball. Michael was my hands-on learner; thus, he enjoyed a few years of Montessori school. Swimming became his thing and opened doors to college and beyond. Each child was created uniquely by God to fulfill a purpose. Part of the adventure in parenting was helping them discover and develop their gifts.

But what about the parent who may lack resources? Maybe you are a single mom living on the edge of poverty. Is there any hope for your child? Does God have a destiny for all children?

In Hebrews 11:23, we find these words about a couple of Hebrew peasants: “By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Pharaoh had begun an extermination of the Jews beginning with the murder of all baby boys at birth. Yet Moses’ parents defied the edict upon threat of their own death. They saw a “gift” or “bent” in Moses that no one else could see.

The Greek word, asteios, translated “beautiful,” is used only one time in the entire New Testament and only to describe Moses. It means “lovely, beautiful, elegant, artistic” and describes one who dwelled in the city and thus was well-bred, cultivated, and sophisticated. How could two rural, Hebrew peasant slaves see this kind of “beauty” in a baby they held in their arms for just three months?

I wonder if we as parents are enabled in some special way to see “into” the character and destiny of our children in ways that others might not? We can certainly pray for them. See the beauty in them. Believe in them even when they don’t believe in themselves. We can look around and see the beauty in other children, too.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:10, Marriage Tips from Proverbs

by Marilynn Chadwick

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”

Proverbs 31:10

What does it mean to be a godly wife? As a new believer when David and I married, this question came to mind often. There were plenty of “how to” books out there, but I wanted to know what the Bible had to say. I found some practical tips on marriage tucked into the pages of Proverbs.

Widely appreciated by scholars as “wisdom literature,” Proverbs contains real-life advice on everything from marriage to parenting. From finances to serving the poor. But I found a beautiful portrayal of what it means to be a godly wife in Proverbs 31:10-31. I encourage you to read these verses, which are actually an acrostic poem.

The poem begins like this: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10 ESV). Some translations refer to her as the “virtuous woman.”

The Hebrew term in Proverbs 31:10 for this famed “virtuous woman,” eshet chayil, is more accurately translated “woman of valor.” The concept of a woman of valor is quite common among Jews, even today. A long-standing custom the evening before Shabbat is for the husband to recite or even sing the words of Proverbs 31, “The Woman of Valor,” as a way to honor his wife.

The woman of valor revealed in Proverbs 31 is a wife and mother. She is also a warrior, a “fighter” at heart. She fights not only for her personal world but also for the world around her. For her marriage and family. For her community. As I listen to conversations with women of all ages, stages, and walks of life, I’m hearing a recurring theme—their heart’s desire to be strong for their families and communities. In short, they long to be strong women of God who influence the world.

Simply put, valor is personal bravery in the face of danger. In its nearly 100 uses in the Old Testament, the word for valor, chayil, is most often used to describe warriors, such as King David’s “mighty men.” Sometimes it’s used to describe God himself, especially when he gives power to his people to fight a battle.

I find the term “woman of valor” both compelling and poetic. Younger women tell me they like this expression of womanhood that is both kind and strong. I believe we need to become women of valor as we face our battles today. As wives, we not only nurture and care for our husbands and children, but we are also called to fight for their well-being.

A fresh look at eshet chayil, the woman of valor in Proverbs 31:10, has opened my eyes to a greater understanding of the joy, fulfillment, and impact God desires for us to have as wives, mothers, and grandmothers. Perhaps it’s time to reclaim this strong, brave, and beautiful portrayal of womanhood.

This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You, by Marilynn Chadwick. For more inspiration or to order the newly Revised Edition of this book, please click here.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 4:20, Training our Heart to Hear God’s Voice

by Marilynn Chadwick

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.” Proverbs 4:20

Consider the miracle of speech. Our voice sets us apart from the animals. It allows us to communicate with each other and with God. Think of the people whose voice is familiar to you. When my husband David calls, he doesn’t have to identify himself. I know his voice because I know him so well. So it is with God. The better we get to know him, the more easily we recognize his voice.

A recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs is the importance of listening to God. Proverbs 4:20 challenges us to be diligent. Let’s reflect on three different versions of this verse:

• “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings” (Prov 4:20 ESV).

  
  

• “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words” (Prov 4:20 NLT).

  
  

• “Listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!” (Prov. 4:20 MSG).

I like how the Message Bible paraphrase reminds us to “tune our ears” to God’s voice. One way we can do this is by spending time reading and meditating on his Word. It helps to follow up with prayer—ongoing conversations with God.

Training our heart to hear God’s voice is one of our most important tasks as believers. Quite a challenge in our busy, noisy world! Daily, we’re bombarded by so many voices. Not every voice we hear in our head is from God.

God’s Word promises us that listening to his voice will bring blessings and protection. "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a NIV).

Many years ago, when I decided to follow Jesus, I began to recognize his voice. Suddenly, God’s Word began to make sense. I reminded our children when they were very young that when they trusted Jesus as their Savior, they, too, could hear his voice. Jesus promises, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Listen to the Lord. Tune your ears to his voice. He is always speaking. Will we be listening?