Youth And Wisdom

"Ask the former generations and find out what theirfathers learned, for we were born only yesterday andknow nothing." - Job 8:8-9 (NIV)As both of my teens approach eighteen years of age, andI become more concerned with issues as their driving avehicle, staying out later, steering clear of drugs andother dangers, I see in them a past image of myselfwhen I was a much younger woman.Try as hard as my ownparents did, no one could tell me what to do if I didnot want to do it. Ah yes, I was the typicalrebellious teen, and that caused my leaving home at anearly age to face the world on my own. All the lessonsmy parents taught me which I refused to listen to atthe time hit me one after another with their stingingrealities. You truly cannot burn the candle at bothends and not eventually get burned-out, and what yousow you WILL reap. Timeless truths as these slowlyengrained themselves in my stubborn psyche, and when Ihad a family of my own I found myself uttering thesesame life lessons to my own little ones. Ah, but likeme, they do not always listen for they feel they knoweverything and must test and try the world on theirown.

And so, like me, they will stumble and fall, sting fromtheir wounds, and, God-willing, get back up again.Truth and wisdom will present itself as it always does

So too did God present man with lessons for living, yetwe do not always heed His advice. We ask ourselves, "Thewisdoms presented in the Bible were written so long agoso how can they hold any relevancy to what we, humans,face today?"

Like stubborn children we fight to have our own way,and in the end, we often come to regret it. However,unlike small children who often make tiny mistakes anderrors in judgments, our own errs can be much moredevastating, finding ourselves in situations whereadultery has been committed, money has been unfairlygained, gossip and lies have destroyed friendships, andlack of wisdom and strength has wounded us physically, emotionally and spiritually.

How many falls will it take before we realize that anexistence without God is like stumbling in the darkwithout a light?

If we are no longer children, then let us heed thewarnings and wisdoms of the ultimate elder and Father,God, who created all things, and to which there isnothing new under the sun. He knows your pains andsorrows, hopes and joys. Invite God and His son, JesusChrist, in to your heart and your life, and your pathwill always be well-lit.

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr