Proverbs for Living - 14

Proverbs 14:4 (NKJV) - "Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox."

When my children were small, my wife claimed this verse in regard to her housekeeping. My wife is meticulous in maintaining a clean and organized house. She was that way from the time we were married, and she is that way today. However......

There came a point in time with three small children in the house she found it almost impossible to keep the high standards of order in the house. Toys seemed to sprout everywhere. She would pick up one room only to find the next in disarray. Cleaning it only led to finding the first room "well lived in again." After many stressful months, she came across this verse in the Bible. And it didn't take her long to realize that this fit her situation.

In wisdom (seeing things from God's perspective) she realized that there were many more important things she needed to be doing with her young inheritances from the Lord. She could stress over everything being perfectly in place, or she could spend those precious moments with her charges. She wisely chose to keep things clean, but to focus on the "oxen" she was raising. And, in hindsight, we both agree that she made the correct choice.

Today, all her children call her for advice, they seek to talk with the one who was so special to them. We are blessed with three daughters who made wise choices for husbands, made wise choices on what's important in life and made wise choices in what they are doing. Our one daughter has 4 young children and understands that they are more important than every piece being in perfect place. And, she is raising four of the greatest grandkids around. (By the way, that statement is made with no bias on my part.)

Prayer: Spirit of Life, thank You for being available to disperse to us wisdom in even the smallest matter as well as the greatest decisions. Thank You that Your Word holds true and if I continue to choose to wisely choose Your Way, I will see such blessed results. Amen.