Chapter 1

Proverbs 1 (Joyce)

“Listen, my son, ato your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.” Proverbs 1:8

I want to take this opportunity to focus on good parenting and pay honor and tribute to my own parents who were incredible as they led me toward God. My parents, who are in their mid-seventies, can boast in the Lord and all that He has done in their lives and the lives of their children. They guided so much of my life, along with my two brothers and sister. Because of their own strength in the Lord and a pure lifestyle that pointed to Christ, their four children and their eleven grandchildren are all followers of Jesus Christ. It is amazing because our family has not been soiled with the pains of divorce or severe heartache, and I am confident it is because of the prayers and leadership of my parents.

This Scripture from Proverbs instructs us to listen to our father. My strong, loving dad was of Italian descent with some Scotch-Irish thrown in for charm. He could strike a tune on a fiddle or tell a story with the best. He demanded respect and yet he was sensitive enough to us that he would listen to us. We would listen because it was expected, but we would listen because he loved us and we did not want to disappoint him. So many of his instructions were spoken often and I still remember.

Two of his instructions that have had the most profound effect on my life were: Love Jesus Christ intensely and love others. He modeled this everyday in his own life by reading his Bible where I could see it and then engaging us in conversation to help direct us toward God. His love for others was extreme. As an elementary child, he and I would go to the city jail every Sunday and have church services for the men who were incarcerated. I played a small pump organ for the music, and the small group of men would love the unlovely. I watched as many men were touched by this small gift of time and love. As a teenager I witnessed him scouring the streets of the Roanoke City market looking for a person in need that he could love and touch. These dirty, disheveled folks would be brought home and my mom would graciously serve them a feast of dinner with all of us watching, and then dad would spend time with them in the living room talking about God and their spiritual demise. He led many to Christ. The power of this modeling still has profound effect on me today because my dad understood that touching one touches many!

My dad had a stroke over ten years ago which completely shut down his ability to talk. This was incredibly stressful for me, because I did not understand the reasons. But through this experience, God has shown me that my father’s inability to speak has only been used to ignite fires in his family. His children and grandchildren have grabbed his torch and continued the work of touching the world for Christ. So dad’s instruction continues even though he is unable to speak the words.

This passage of Scripture also instructs us not to abandon, relinquish or leave your mother’s teaching. My mother is an incredible teacher. Her ability to teach in the moment is a skill that I was able to learn and use even today. She looked for ways to instruct that were pertinent to my life in the moment. She like my dad loves Jesus Christ intensely and loves others with the same intensity. I have seen her minister to many over the years and her ability to put her own needs behind the needs of others is amazing. Her consistency in having a daily quiet time is remarkable. Every morning she faithfully spends time with God getting her “fresh word” for the day. I saw it as a little child and I continue to witness it today when I am home for visits. Her faithfulness and consistency has helped me to be the same way.

One statement that she reminded me of often when I was in Middle School was: “Your life is like a fish bowl, remember, others will be watching.” She was right. As I have tried to witness and love others, my lifestyle, my example, my actions have spoken much louder than the words of my mouth and many have been watching even if I did not know they were inspecting my walk.

Another instruction that she has held on to all these years is:”Be a life-long learner!” She has modeled this over and over as the years have rolled along. I remember when computers were first becoming popular my mom learned how to maneuver a computer with my dad and she continues to email, take digital photos, send photos, print photos, work her VCR, etc. Education was vital in our family and her own story of leaving her country home to become a nurse, raising a family, going back to school for refreshing, nursing as an empty nester, managing my dad’s books for a business when he retired, and continuing her own learning has continued to instill this instruction in me.

My parents were the best parents and continue to impact my life. They laid out clear instructions to help me parent and live. Their life has been an example of consistency and their love for Christ has been unwavering. Listening to them, not abandoning their words, living what they taught has brought life and blessing to me and I will be forever grateful for their instruction!