Parental Wisdom

I was in the church on Sunday to celebrate “Mothering Sunday” with my mum.

The minister took his text for Sermon from Exodus Chapter 2.

The story narrated the birth of a biblical legend – Moses, an Israelite.

I learnt something new from this scripture and wish to share…

Pharaoh the king had ordered the killing of all new-born Hebrew boys to reduce the population of the Israelites.

Moses’ mother Jochebed, for fear of the king’s order, left him in a basket by the riverbank hoping for his survival.

As Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to take a bath, she sighted the basket and when she opened it, alas it was a baby boy crying for help.

Believing he must be one of the Hebrew boys, she decided to take him as a son.

However, Moses’ sister who was watching from a distance showed up immediately and recommended to help get a nurse for the baby.

The princess unknowingly agreed for the baby’s real mother to be contracted at a fee.

Over the years, I have only related this story to the smart move of Moses’ family which helped in moulding his life, preserving his identity and in due course his becoming a deliverer to his brethren, Israelites.

However, on the flip side, Pharaoh’s daughter made a huge mistake when she agreed to that contract unknowingly.

Imagine if Pharaoh’s daughter, who at the time she picked Moses had become his new mother, chose to take care of that baby by herself? Maybe the following would have been the outcome…

Moses’ life would have been moulded according to the Egyptian traditions.

Jochebed would not have had the opportunity to inculcate the Hebrew values and doctrines into him.

The resultant effect of the Princess’ action can be likened to what many families are facing today.

As a parent, how much of your time have you committed to your children’s upbringing, ensuring that the right values are passed to them?

Have you contracted your children’s training to a third party at a fee just to relieve yourself of that responsibility?

Do you pay attention to what your children are learning and how they respond to life issues through their developmental stages?

Remember the saying in Proverbs 22:6,

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – New International Version

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – King James Version

“Point your kids in the right direction, when they’re old they won’t be lost.”- The Message Bible