On Day 13, we explored “Choosing Friends Wisely”, while we dug into “Right, Not Wrong” two days later.

In Proverbs 4:13-14, we are taught “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:   keep her; for she is thy life.  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”

“Take fast hold” speaks to our need to actively teach our children to recognize good versus bad – and, where “bad” sometimes equates to “evil.”   “Take fast hold” is to intervene.

“…let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life” is an emphatic instruction that sets clear boundaries and demands when applied to the parent:child relationship.  “She is thy life” – to me, this so accurately characterizes the precious gift of a child and our purpose as parents.

And the last part could not be more clear.  Simply, we are told that we are not to follow the wicked or associate with evil.  Period.

M46 Challenge:  Talk to your children about how to discern good versus bad people.  And the dangers of hanging out with the wrong crowd.”

We cannot be overly conservative or filtered in our conversations with our children about good versus evil.  Nor should we be too protectively measured in our discussion of the consequences of going with the wrong crowd.  Be specific.  Be consistent.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help my child to make wise decisions with her friends, and who she associates with.  Help her not to go into a path of evil.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thoughts:  How many examples of bad people and the dangers of the wrong crowd can you find in the news and in social media?  And how many examples of good?  For one day, count them – and select those 2-3 examples that can be used to reinforce the importance of making good choices.  And consider those of your own examples, your own personal experiences, your own poor choices, and your own lessons learned – and share them.

Next, we will spend a bit of time contemplating Proverbs 1:33.  Until then…

Keep it Lit,

T.