AUGUST 22

Proverbs 6:20

Ryan watched his father pull out the stake that had been wired to a sapling ever since it had been planted. “What was that stake for?” asked Ryan.“Saplings often don’t have the strength or ability to stand alone,” Dad said. “The stake acted as a support for this plant.”“Then why are you taking it out?” asked Ryan.

“The tree is big enough now to take any winds that come along,” said Dad. “It’s growing tall and straight because it was held in that position by the supporting stake.” He stood back and looked at the tree. “That’s pretty much like our lives,” he added thoughtfully. “Like our lives?” asked Ryan. “What do you mean?”

“Well, take you, for instance,” said Dad. “When you were very small, either your mother or I generally held your hand when you tried to walk. Then as you grew and got better at keeping your balance, we let you go by yourself.”

Ryan nodded as he thought about it. “I still need help for other things, though, so I’ll probably always be bugging you,” he said with a grin. “We’ll be glad to help whenever we can,” Dad assured him, “but when the time comes that we’re no longer here, you’ll be ready to go on without us.”

“So that’s how I’m like the tree,” commented Ryan. “When it was small and weak, it needed the stake, but now that it’s bigger, it doesn’t need that support. I still need you a lot now, but when I’m bigger, I’ll be able to manage by myself, too.”

“You’ve got it,” said Dad. He smiled. “There’s a verse in the Bible that encourages your mother and me as we raise you.”

“Which verse is that?” asked Ryan curiously.

“Proverbs 22:6,” replied Dad. “‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ We’re teaching you now to honour the Lord, and we’re trusting Him to keep you walking in His way in the future, because you’ll never be so big that you don’t need God.”

Thought: Do you get annoyed when you’re restricted by the rules your parents make? Don’t be.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me parents, and even if I sometimes rather not have the rules they give me, I know they are for my good. I pray You will bless them, and protect my family, making us close to You and to each other. This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.