Garlands and Pendants – Proverbs 1:8,9

I have a vision for my family.  I  don’t know if God gave me this vision or if it is just something I deeply desire.  I want to see my entire family, my four children and their spouses and children, and the next generation, all know the Lord.  I know also that just because I teach them well and their parents teach their children well, not all of them will be receptive.  This section of Solomon’s work is directed at his son (1:8-9:18).  We see his parental yearning for his children to walk in the ways of Yahweh, the way of wisdom, and he takes his responsibility seriously.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9, ESV)

About the only place in the United States where we might regularly find a garland placed on our head or around our neck is Hawaii.  The lei is a strand of flowers that like other such garlands provides a pleasant aroma and a decorative look that makes the wearer feel special and honored.  In the hippie culture of the 60’s the wearing of flower garlands in the hair of women was a symbol of peace and love and a reconnection with nature.  In ancient Greece the laurel wreath was placed on the head of those victorious in battle or in competitive games.

I have noticed a lot of men wearing pendants of late, mostly athletes and mostly baseball players.  They often seem symbolic of the wearer’s faith (a cross, for example) or the wearer’s wealth (large gold pendants abound).

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, and the instruction of parents is part of Yahweh’s design for teaching boys and girls the wisdom they need from a young age.  What parents offer is like a garland or pendant for their neck, to grace them and make them successful in keeping God’s will.  It is especially important as children move toward adulthood and making decisions outside their parents’ protection that they have this teaching as a moral base for decision-making.  Only fools despise wisdom and instruction (1:7) and so only foolish children abandon their parents’ teachings.

So it is right for parents to encourage their children by holding out the prospect of how their parenting will be of great advantage to their children, be a garland or pendant for them that protects them from folly.  How do you or did you talk to your kids about the benefits of receiving your instruction?

But what if the parents are fools themselves who do not or did not provide wise instruction for their children?  What if their teaching is not very garland or pendant like?  This is a situation in which other “parents” must take up the slack.  Even as adults we find other “parents” to help guide us in life’s journey.  We often call them mentors.  I remember in seminary seeing many of the guys there going after relationship with the faculty and I did not see wearing such a garland as appropriate or desirable, only to wish toward the end of my stay there that I had done the same thing.  We need the guidance and help of those who have gone ahead of us and God has richly provided such mentors if we will only humble ourselves and recognize them and our need for them.  Would God have you help another?

Father, make me the kind of parent whose teaching is garlands and pendants that grace the necks of my children, and make their teaching such for their children.  And then help them to embrace that teaching as valuable.  Help me to receive the teaching of any mentors in my life.