Kindergartern of Maturity (An Excerpt)

Kindergarten of Maturity (An Excerpt from Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents)

Poor choices—my child excels at making them. She struts her independence and then does something so ridiculous that even she realizes she did not use good sense. It is amazing that she has such genius, but makes such unwise decisions.

My child refuses to acknowledge that the Sovereign God just might be able to help her with important life choices. Instead, she ridicules me for suggesting that reverence for God and prayer can lead her in the right direction. Proverbs 13:1 could have been written about my daughter: “Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing” (The Message). She pulls away from God and me, like a five-year-old trying to cross a busy street by herself. Suddenly, she recognizes the danger and jumps back to the safety of the curb.

Although she looks like an adult, she is immature. I guess my child is in the kindergarten of maturity. Surely, someday she will realize that all wisdom comes from God. She will grow into her faith as she grows into womanhood.

In the meantime, I pray for wisdom from God to know how to help my child develop into a woman of godly wisdom.

Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.
Praise his name forever!
—Psalm 111:10 (NLT)

Whispers
Dear Lord, instill in _______________ reverence for You, the foundation of true wisdom. Teach _______________ to understand the rewards of wisdom that come to all who obey You. Lord, show me how to respond to my child’s poor choices . Then bring us to the point in the future where _________________ and I will praise Your name forever. In Jesus’s name. Amen.