Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness

There are enough fools in the world!

Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness: Turning In

Proverbs 9:4 – “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says...”

Proverbs contrasts the wayward woman with Wisdom who is personified as a woman calling out to the naïve children of this world. Both women are calling out to persuade the simple-minded to “turn into” their house. The image is vivid and compelling. Imagine a young man in puberty standing in the middle of the street with two houses on each side. In the doorway of one house is a mature woman, a wife no less, scantily clad, with seductive eyes, with a bottle of booze in her hand, curling her index finger toward the young man provocatively urging him to come into her house. She informs him her husband is out of town, and he will have his first experience of what she calls “love.” That is a strong temptation for a young, naïve boy. From the opposite house is a mature, perhaps elderly grandmother who stands in the doorway of her house calling out to the same young man asking him to come sit on her porch. She has a Bible in her hand and kind eyes. She is dressed in very modest clothing, nothing to suggest she is seducing the young man. She offers him an alternative to the other house. The young man is confronted with a critical decision, one that will change the trajectory of his life. Which will he choose?

Training children is about painting this picture. Where will they “turn in.” Parents must talk about that critical moment in a child’s life that is repeated many times on the road to maturity, the moment when they must choose right from wrong, good from evil, and wisdom from foolishness. The moment of temptation must be addressed. When I was growing up, we were taught a simple song. “Be careful little eyes what you see; be careful little ears what you hear; be careful little mouth what you say.” The song goes on to remind us that “there is a Father up above, looking down in tender love.” Critical life decisions are often made when the child thinks no one sees. It is true. The parent cannot be everywhere all the time. There is so much we do not see. This is why we must train our children to wisely make critical decisions at the point of persuasion. The “turning in” point occurs many times throughout the day. A friend tries to persuade your child to choose foolishness. A video plants a persuasive thought in your child’s mind. The “wayward woman” calls out. Wisdom calls out. Which will they choose. Warn your child about this moment of decision. It is the most important moment of their day. It is the moment of “which will I choose?” THERE ARE ENOUGH FOOLS IN THE WORLD.