Proverb 10:1

Proverbs Contrasting the Godly and the Wicked
“The Proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother”

Solomon writes these words to us and explains that wisdom has some indicators. We subconsciously know this to be true, but without observing it, we can miss the significance. Which is why I love the Ancient Lore. They allow us to stop, ponder and then wonder at the magnitude and meaning behind simple, everyday things.

I look back to the times I’ve made my father glad—which is an underused word and often substituted for much less descriptive and overused terms. As an aside, vocabulary is a wonderful gift; When we have knowledge of a word’s meaning, we explore greater heights and deeper depths on our travels. The Ancient Lore is a trove full of these beautiful words to explore—so, when I look back to the times I’ve made my father glad, I realize it’s not the times he was proud of me, say for performing at a recital, placing well at my track meet, graduating college or publishing my book. These things made him happy, no doubt. But only because I worked hard to achieve them and they gave me a sense of fulfillment, growth and therefore some delight. But they were only precursors to the fulfillment, growth and delight he hoped to see in me.

But what makes his heart glad? When I come to terms with who I am, where come from and where I am going. When I come to understand things about my nature. When I recognize the gifts in my life and find much to be grateful for instead pining over what is missing. When I find my own self-worth instead of comparing myself to others. When I express to him what I’m learning about God’s Kingdom. When I seek knowledge and truth. When my soul is as peace, content and in growth. When I’m living out who I truly am. That’s what makes him glad. 

On the flip side, I have caused my mother great grief over the years. When she observes me in my downward spirals, pained by discouragement, disbelief and depression. In the moments when I’m not thinking clearly, have a heavy heart and turn to things that don’t satisfy the aching hole inside of me. She will express when she’s worried about me. She will pray for me and her heart aches when mine does. She knows when my soul is defeated and is losing a battle. She sees it on my face, hears it in my voice, and finds evidence in my actions, decisions and habits. She has lost sleep with worry. She has prayed excessively. And she has poured love, acceptance, encouragement and advice into my life. Not just mine, but my brothers’ also. 

If I look at these two sets of descriptors, they are:

1 – in conflict
2 – indicative of something that’s happening deep inside of my being and not just on the surface.
3 – directly correlated to Wisdom and simplicity.

When I am making my father’s heart glad, I am acting wisely which means I am in touch with Lady Wisdom. I am hearing her whispers, I’m open to her instruction, she is guiding my way and I am becoming privy to who I am: my place in time, in history, in life and in God’s Kingdom.

But when I am causing my mother grief, I am quenching the voice of Lady Wisdom and am burdened by the noise of the clamorous woman. I am not seeking knowledge, but operating out of my immediate desires. I seek out the things that bring me momentary satisfaction and my mind, body and soul are perpetually wounded as a result. I’m finding myself in a hellish state of existence and am, more often than not, surrounded by others who lack joy and life.

When I struggle to identify myself as being wise or foolish, all I have to do is asses my parents. Are they worried for me? Or are they glad-hearted? The thing is yesterday they could have been glad and today worried. Or vice verse. I am not wise or foolish. My journey is in progress. I am either becoming wise, or becoming foolish. And if I look back over time at how much grief I’ve caused mom, or how much gladness I’ve given dad, that will be telling about how much time I’ve spent on my journey acting wisely or foolishly. The blessing Lady Wisdom gives so generously in this verse, is the opportunity to assess and then reroute my journey to ensure I bring my parents gladness for the rest of their days.