I was catching up on some blog posts this morning and came across a gem (which is not unusual from Mrs. Wilson’s blog) about parenting boys. Here’s a snippet but do pop over to read the post in its entirety.
According to Proverbs, mothers are to lay down the law, particularly to their sons. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Prov. 1:8-9).
Mothers sometimes think that Dad is the one with all the authority around the house, particularly when it comes to dealing with the boys. But this is just false. God has established the authority of both parents in the home. Sons are to be well acquainted with the law of their mothers, and this is a good thing. In fact, God tells the sons that this instruction and law are like a crown and a necklace.
Mothers need to establish their authority over their children when they are little (particularly the boys), but that includes bringing them up by means of godly instruction, not just by use of raw authority. Children must obey both parents, and both parents must exercise their authority with wisdom and humility, knowing that they answer to God for how they are bringing up their children.
A mother who refuses to give instruction and correction not only damages the child, but also guarantees her own sorrow. “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15). “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Prov. 10:1).
Did this speak to you or encourage you as much as it did me?
