Pass on wisdom

"Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck." Proverbs 1:8,9 NIV

On January 31, Tampa News Channel 8 published a story titled, "A Runner’s Life: Father and son strengthen relationship step by step" about a father/son duo who recently completed the Philadelphia Marathon together. Dr. Michael Welsey, a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at John Hopkins All Children's Hospital, said he starts each day with a run with friends to recharge and connect. “When you’re running, looking straight forward and sharing from the heart, those are the connections that are so binding,” he said. He recently experienced that bond with someone new, his son Alex. After watching his dad run daily and line up for many races during the last 20 years, the younger Wilsey decided to join. Both Wilseys signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon. The elder Wilsey did not mince words in preparing his son for this undertaking. “I really shared with him that this is a challenge,” he recalled. Dr. Wilsey has run 20 marathons and knows that it can be tough on your body but also tough on you mentally. He explained to his son that after three hours of running a marathon, you are hurting, and you still have one more hour left to run. Even after these words of wisdom from his dad, Alex knew this was something he wanted to do with his father. They spent months running mile after mile to prepare for the marathon....“We ran together for most of the race,” Dr. Wilsey recalled. “It was a really special moment, and I’m just so proud of him.” Do you just love that or what?

And you know, when it comes to the importance of giving and receiving wise instruction, Solomon gave both parents and their children an example to follow when he said, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” The idea is that the instruction and law given from the parent to the child and then heeded by the child would adorn and bless the life of the child both now and in the days to come. Gill’s Exposition explains it this way, “ The instructions and laws of parents being attended unto and obeyed by children, render them more lovely and amiable than any beautiful ornament whatever that can be put upon their heads; and chains about thy neck; be that unto them as chains of gold are to the neck, beautify and adorn them; so good works, done in obedience to God and parents, are ornaments of great price, and preferable to any outward adorning whatever.”

So friends, let us do everything we can to gain insight and knowledge of the Word so that we might be able to share the words of wisdom contained within the Bible with the next generation. It will not only benefit them both now and in the hereafter but will benefit us as well.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we all have a responsibility to pass on the wisdom that comes from the Bible to the next generation so that they will have the tools to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. In addition, please help us to be good role models in both our actions and in our speech Lord. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!