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Parenting by the Book

Proverbs   Study
Study 134

STUDY 134

Text: Proverbs 15
18 January 2004

Dear Parents,

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN HOW TO HAVE A MERRY HEART
Babies are happy little souls. They laugh easily. They are easily contented. With each passing month, the natural response of laughter gives way to other expressions. Demands, self-will, temper-tantrums can wreak havoc on a child’s life.

What can we do to counter these personality-warping responses? One of the challenges that parents must seriously consider is that of teaching children how to have a merry heart.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 15:13

1. The merry heart

There is nothing wrong with the word “merry”. Merriment is a good word. It speaks of one who has a happy personality. The person who has a merry heart expresses that in the adoption of “a cheerful countenance”.

2. The sorrowful heart

There are some who adopt a melancholic approach to life. The heart seems to be burdened with sorrow all the time. The danger is obvious! The heart that is constantly filled with sorrow would see his spirit broken as the final consequence. What tragedy that would be!

ANOTHER WORD OF CHALLENGE
We have another challenging word in the following text. The theme is the same – “a merry heart”.

All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15

1. Days of affliction

There will be periods of life which may indeed be described as “days of affliction”. The person who already has a dismal approach to life would find it difficult to survive those days. They are “evil” in his opinion.

2. “A continual feast”

The person who has a merry heart, on the other hand, does not seem to be overly bothered by problems. His positive approach to life enables him to enjoy “a continual feast”.

Pray that our children may have such hearts. Model happiness in your life!

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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