The Better Way

Tradition and Wisdom
Teaching and Learning:
Teaching Values

Proverbs 15:15-19

The Message

 ¹⁵ A miserable heart means a miserable life;
   a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

 ¹⁶ A simple life in the Fear-of-God
   is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

 ¹⁷ Better a bread crust shared in love
   than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

 ¹⁸ Hot tempers start fights;
   a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

 ¹⁹ The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
   the diligent walk down a smooth road.

For Reflection
It is folly to think that we teach. It is true that we learn.  However, we learn what we wish to learn.  Therefore, it must be remembered that,  at times the most important teaching occurs without the teacher knowing it.  This means that if others are going to learn "The Way" of our Lord and Christ from one of us, they will learn the most compelling things from observing our behavior, even when we, ourselves, are unaware of how we impress others.

The central message in Proverbs is that we should become more and more aware of the consistency among our beliefs, values and action.  We need to do what we say!  We must learn how to bring people to Christ not just Christ to the people.

Pray
that your words are spoken with thoughtfulness.  Pray that your weak behaviors don't slip out destructively.  Pray that you will embrace the Holy Spirit and allow that spirit to guide your every thought and action.  Pray to tune into the wisdom that is within you because God is there to guide your life.