91 Year Old Wisdom

Today, at Students of the Spirit, the mommas had the pleasure of hearing the wisdom of a couple that are both 91 years old. I could have listened to them all day. It was so sweet to watch them interact with one another and finish each other's sentences. If you've ever spent a day at a nursing home or with your grandparents, you probably already know this but, there is so much they can teach us if we are willing to listen. 

As I listened, I wrote down little nuggets of wisdom about parenting. They are just too good not to share a few with all of you. 

1- It is vital for spouses to be on the same level spiritually. Praying together and studying the Word together are so important. There should be no one else you can share your dreams and prayers with more openly than your spouse and hopefully they will be able to share in those with you.

2- Giving your children appropriate chores as a way to help the family will teach them responsibility and help them to grow up realizing everything isn't handed to us.

3- Parents need to be a United Front. Being a team will keep kids from manipulating you.

4- Invite your kid's friends into your home and spend time with them. This way you will be able to see who they really are. Their friends have a great deal of influence. 

5- Meditating on verses as a family will be invaluable to you and your children. Break the words apart and discuss what they mean and apply them to your lives. 

6- The word says, "IN all things give thanks (not FOR all things). Regardless of circumstances we are called to be grateful.

7- When studying the Bible, don't forget to teach who the writers of the books were and what they endured. This will help our children to better understand that God uses everyday people. 

8- Wives and Children crave spiritual leadership. 

9- It is not easy to change a man who has grown up with a very specific pattern. Use this to your advantage, as a way to impact the future generations. Aim to raise your children with a godly pattern that will be very difficult for them to change.

10- Read Psalm 4:8 over your children at bedtime. Write it on an index card and tape it to their nightstand.  "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

11- One of the simplest ways to impact your marriage and your children is for a wife to welcome her husband home with a kiss each day (or vice versa). It sets a loving tone.

12- It's good for the kids to see some lovin' too. They might say they hate it but it provides a great deal of comfort for children to know their parents love one another.

13- Carefully make BIG decisions together as a family. This will guide our kids to take seriously making decisions about where they go, what they do, who they're with, etc. These things mold them as they grow.

14- Give them space and freedom to explore the gifts God has given them and become who He created them to be.

I could seriously go on and on. I hope to have the opportunity to learn from this couple again. Their life experiences have developed so much wisdom within them. I am grateful today for their willingness to share it with all of the moms this morning. 

Ms. Cooper also shared one last bit of advice. She encouraged us to write down the verses that greatly impact our lives. One day, when we look back over the scriptures we've written down and remember how God used them to bless us or sustain us, those verses will be like treasures. That's definitely something I plan on doing!