Lessons From My Mom & Dad
Posted by donknoup on March 10, 2009
Proverbs 1:8
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
I mentioned quite a few posts ago that I would blog some day about lessons I’ve learned from my mom and dad. In fact I think I’ll just sort of post these from time to time as I think of them…so as you read any of these posts about my mom and dad, please understand they are not arranged in any sort of logical fashion…more or less just off the cuff.
A lesson that I have learned from my mom is the value of education. During grammar school, middle school, and throughout high school my mom pushed me to stay on the honor roll. I, of course, pushed back with a half-way effort which only barely kept me on that honor roll. I honestly believe if I would have put forth some effort I could have easily obtained straight A’s all the way till college.
College of course, was a different story altogether. I don’t have any illusions that I could have obtained a 4.0 in college, but I certainly could have done better. My mom was again the driving force behind my pursuing higher education. Which is consequently why she was so dissappointed when I quit NIU after 3 years and never obtained my degree.
But, you know what? She didn’t just talk about my need to study hard and get an education…she demonstrated it. According to her own report on the matter, she was a rather average student through her childhood. So, for her, going back to school (college courses) as an adult was extremely tough. But, despite how hard it might have been she did just that. While I was growing up, I watched as my mom took many classes through her work and at a community college.
I watched as she pushed herself to learn new things, like learning to run her own quilting business. She set an example for me to follow. The words from Proverbs 1:8 almost seem to be ringing in my ears even as I write this. As parents we should be an example to our children and as children we should learn from our parents.
In part because of what my mother has taught me, I am now enrolled in the External Studies Program at World Harvest Bible College. I hope that I never stop learning.
