The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 Then he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.’”

I had a conversation with a friend at church today. Some troublesome problems had invaded the life of a

friend. “Parents” and “parenting” soon entered the conversation, and I suggested that either his father had

not led him in the right way or he had self-determined to “do his own thing,” which resulted in the trouble.

Solomon’s father, David, was certainly not a perfect father. He wasn’t even a perfect man. Yet, in these

verses he gave sound advice to his son. “Now, you listen to what I’m telling you! Do you hear?” Haven’t

you had your dad say that same thing to you? “Give attention,” he says, knowing that if his son doesn’t

learn to pay attention to his father, it is likely that he won’t listen to other instruction given to him in life.

It would be easy to imagine verse two as having come from the LORD Himself; ultimately, however, it is

the sound teaching the writer has received from his own father. There can be no doubt that the instruction

essentially came from the LORD. Wisdom is knowing what to do and how and when to do it. In my lifetime,

I’ve often known what to say, but not when to say it or when not say it. In other words, I lacked wisdom.

Wisdom is like understanding in that both must be acquired.

Most of these verses read and sound as if they were intended for young people. Well, they are! But they

are also instructions to parents. You can say, “Well, my kids just don’t listen to me.” But that does not

release you from the responsibility to instruct them! The LORD will hold parents accountable, just as He

does their children. May God richly and abundantly provide for you in and through His love!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. As a small CHRISTmas gift, I am attaching a digital copy of my book, Alive In The Spirit. I am excitedly thankful to be able

to tell you that has gone worldwide into 25 countries, on all continents (except for Antarctica ). It’s too cold there for the

pages to turn –even in digital.) I hope you will find it helpful.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”