Wisdom Wednesday.06

It’s been a week! A quiet, healing week of reflection over the glorious whirlwind of travel, family, and non-stop memory making moments of the week previous.

Last Wednesday, I wrote and posted from my parents’ home in the northeast portion of Georgia. Today, I write from our home in Southern California.

My reflections this week have centered around the simplicity of wisdom. I’m not declaring wisdom is cheap or flimsy or easy to come by. In fact, the Bible states that wisdom is costly, and of inestimable value. However, if you read through the Proverbs daily, you have to admit they offer some pretty simple common sense ideas to live by.

Is it true that “Common sense is not so common”? Or is it simply true that sometimes our natural fleshly desires supersede our desire for wise counsel?

”And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Traveling by plane, shuttle and Uber offers many opportunities to people watch. And so, I’ve recently had an abundance of opportunity. My pondering thoughts have left me with some golden nuggets of wisdom gleaned from watching some amazing parents traveling with their precious children during the holidays.

On one flight we sat across from a Papa bear daddy and his two babies. We watched in awe and with sincere appreciation as he loved on, corralled, corrected, and protected his babies for a rather peaceful almost 3 hour flight.

This man thought of everything and to top it off, he thoroughly knew his children. He strategically sat at the back of the plane near the lavatories. He sat in the middle seat with a baby on each side. Papa handed out sippy cups and snacks, and yes, he allowed some screen time carefully selected and monitored. (It was 3 hours. Let’s not judge.)

This daddy changed a diaper. He was stationed between a sleeping baby and the lavatory for the older child, and he held it all together all the way through the landing.

We expressed to this dear Papa bear how impressed we were with his fathering skills. “You’re a good father,” I said with a big grin, as we de-planed. He was calling his Mom just then to let her know they landed. I feel sure grandma was delighted to take over time with the babies, and I pray this man was rewarded with a wonderful nap!

What did I learn?

This man was wise. He knows his children, and what their schedule is like. He knew what they would need, and he was prepared. Most of all, he is their Dad. He took charge.

This undertaking wasn’t easy, but what aspect of parenting is easy. He obviously had put time and effort into planning it, and maybe had some help from Mom. He simply made a choice to put a whole lot of Dad experience into making this experience happen for his children and his Mom.

And it reminded me that God is a good Father. He knows us intricately, and he knows our tendencies. Our Father understands our weaknesses and knows what we need. He strategically places us and stays close to us even when we’re distracted by screen time.

Our good Father owns everything we will ever need, and He lovingly provides for our needs. He can always reach us. We’re always within His sight. Our Father is a faithful protector. And He never needs a nap!

The wisdom nuggets our Father offers us in His word are for our benefit. They are choice morsels of nutrition rather than the junk food we tend to find easily accessible in our culture.

And He lets us choose. However, He always makes sure that we understand the results of our choices for the good or the bad.

Here are a few of the nutritional delicacies I’ve been savoring this week. Perhaps you will add one of your own in the comments below.

”Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Live Love Brightly,

Lisa