My daughter is 17 years old. Next year she will be a senior in high school and college is knocking on our door. We have started the process of visiting colleges. As she grows and matures into womanhood and her days under our roof are shorter, I wonder have I prepared her for the world. Has she learned all the lessons she needs to know both philosophical and practical to make it in this world?
She can finish my sentences when I give her warnings and advice. But has it really sunk in? What does she need to know?
Before her 17th birthday, I started compiling some life lessons in my prayer journal to pass on to her. Some have been passed down to me from others. Some were learned the hard way through experience. They include core beliefs, common sense or practical tips for everyday living. I started with 20 but the list keeps growing so I think I'll just keep adding to it and sharing it.
What life lessons do you want your children to learn? What lessons has life taught you?
Here's 1-20 on my list:
1 Pray every day. It doesn't have to be a long prayer. Sometimes the most powerful prayers are just a few words. "Lord, help me." "Lord, save me."But take the time consistently to connect and communicate with the Creator for longer than a minute.
2. Read God's Word every day. God's Word is his love letter to us. It corrects, consoles, comforts, instructs, gives us wisdom and guidance. It is the truth. When we read his word, we can pray back his Word and his promises. (See Lesson 1)
3. Hang out with good people. My father said it to me and I say it to you, "If you want to fly with eagles, you can't hang out with turkeys." The company you keep matters because more than likely you will find yourself doing what your friends do. If your friends curse, drink, do drugs and have sex, then the chances that you will do those things greatly increases. The Bible says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners or sits in the seat of the scornful." You may not intend to be sitting in the seat of the scornful but before you know it, that's where you are. "Evil communication corrupts good manners." Be with people who are going the same direction you are.
4. People are more important than things.
5. You can't go wrong when you do right, but you might suffer for it.
6. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
7. Money is a tool and resource; learn how to use it.
8. Always have an emergency fund
9. Don't charge up credit cards. Live within your means
10. Your body is precious; Don't just give it away and don't believe "everybody is doing it."
11. Don't believe everything; Don't trust everybody
12. There's a time for everything
13. Nothing is impossible with God
14. Work hard; people will help you
15. Your attitude determines your altitude (another word of wisdom passed down from my father)
16. All you need is one good friend
17. Jesus is your friend; you can call on him anytime
18. You never know who's watching you
19. Don't walk alone at night; never walk away from your drink (wisdom from my husband); don't put yourself in vulnerable situations
20. This too shall pass
What are your life lessons?
Reformed Christian rapper Shai Linne has a new track on his upcoming release called "False Teachers" in which he names some of the most popular preachers in America as "false teachers."
