"Lessons For Dad, By Mom

“Lessons For Dad, By Mom”

Proverbs 15:13-23

INTRODUCTION: It’s Father’s Day! Sometimes it’s hard to figure out women! “Amen”, guys? Just when we think we’ve got them figured out, they surprise us with something new.

A man comes home and his wife is in tears. “What’s the matter, honey?” “Well, if you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you!” Has that ever happened to you?

Well, this morning, I’m going to ATTEMPT to give an insight into the mind of a mother/wife. WHY? To help out the Dads on Father’s Day!

What do Mothers want in a Father? What can we do to be better Fathers/Husbands … to make our wives happier and our families better?

Let’s look to Proverbs Chapter 15. WHAT DO MOMS WANT TO SEE IN A DAD?

1.- LAUGHTER – 15:13,15

The home should be a FUN place to be … AMEN? Too often, there’s too much TENSION in the home – 15:13b, 15a. God has given us the gift of LAUGHTER to make the home a place to be enjoyed.

“Laughter” is even considered good MEDICINE … see 17:22. Laughter relieves tension. It’s a medical fact that, when you laugh, you release chemical enzymes in the brain, which is important to the health of almost all our vital organs. It EXERCISES our vital organs … relaxes the tissues … reduces tension. It also makes for a fun place to be.

So, Dads, LIGHTEN UP! What do Moms want to see in a Dad/husband? A man who believes in having a good time with his wife and kids.

2.- LISTEN – 15:14

You’re never too old to LEARN. How do you LEARN? By LISTENING. James 1:19 – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Look at 15:14b. Sometimes we have the “mouth of fools”, don’t we? How do we do this? By putting our foot in our mouth, by TALKING, when we should be LISTENING.

Dads, husbands … don’t be TOO BUSY to LISTEN. If you are, you won’t be able to “understand” your wife & kids – 15:14a. That’s what she needs and wants … a listening ear.

Men, listening is HARD WORK. We have to FOCUS on the person speaking. Too often, we get focused on our problems, our worries … OURSELVES. AND … we don’t rally listen to our wives. One of the biggest complaints that women have, is that their husbands don’t LISTEN to them enough.

NOW … a word to the WIVES. Women need to learn WHEN to talk to their husbands. AN INSIGHT … During the Super Bowl isn’t a good time to talk over your problems with them. Choose the best time to have a listening ear. Women have a tendency to just blurt out what’s on their mind … at the most inopportune times … when the mood strikes them. Men need to be aware of this … and stop … and listen.

There’s GOOD ADVICE for men in 18:13. Put your brain in gear before you put your mouth in motion … LISTEN!

3.- LIVELIHOOD – 15:16-17

If you want a happy home, live within your means. Financial stress will kill the spirit of your home. Dad, it’s YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure that you don’t get caught up on the treadmill of materialism … even if you’re not the one who keeps the checkbook. Luke 12:15 – listen to what Jesus said … “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Men, she would rather have less and be happy, than to have more and be head-over-heels in debt and be miserable … “Amen” ladies?

The KEY is to be CONTENT in what you have … with what you can afford. See 15:16-17 again. The Bible says a lot about CONTENTMENT:

o Philip. 4:11 – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

o Hebrews 13:5 – “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:”

o 1 Timothy 6:6-9 – ribbon

“Contentment” isn’t confined to cows (Elsie the “contented cow”). “Contentment” is one of the keys to a happy, healthy home.

4.- LOVE – 15:18

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love suffereth long, and is kind.” LOVE isn’t getting in the last word in an argument … unless it’s “Yes, dear!”. The last argument I had with Harriet ended up with her crawling on her hands and knees. She was looking under the bed and shouting, “Come out from under there, you coward!”

LOVE means controlling your tongue … your words (remember … LISTEN!). When you get angry, just remember … SHUT UP! … until you can speak peaceably and lovingly. Ephes. 4:26 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”