Wisdom

March 4, 2024

For what seems to be God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:25 ~ GNT

Dear St. Paul’s Family.

Our sons were honor students and gifted and talented, but that didn’t always mean they were wise. Years ago, when they were in middle school, I was on the hunt for a new vacuum cleaner and discovered a vintage Singer Canister vacuum in a thrift shop. I was so excited to get it, and loved how it worked more than any upright I had.

One Friday evening Rod and I went on a date night and left the boys at home. They spent the time watching a movie and having snacks in our family room. When we got home, they reported that everything went well, except they spilled a can of Coke on the rug. They assured me that they’d cleaned up the mess and to their credit they did.

Five days later, I started to do some cleaning. When I got the Singer Canister vacuum out, plugged it in, and turned it on, it didn’t work. No machine noise, nothing. I opened it up and noticed that the well where the dust is collected was gunky, beginning to rust and smelled like Coke. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together. I realized that they’d successfully cleaned up the spilt Coke and fried my vintage Singer Canister vacuum.

I am grateful that I had over a decade of parenting under my belt, was a therapist, much wiser as a 40-something than my adolescent sons and had time to pray before we had a talk that day after school. I said that I was very pleased that they had cleaned up the mess, told them about the vacuum, and suggested better ways to clean up wet messes. They are much wiser today!

In preparing a Time for Children based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, I discovered a neat way to understand the components of wisdom. They are: 1) Good Judgement, 2) Experience and Learning, 3) Knowing what is right, and 4) Guidance from God (prayer). I’ve labeled them Wisdom’s For Legs.  

In regard to the ruined Vintage Singer Vacuum, I’ve gone through a number of other models, none of which compares in price or performance to that one. But of course, memory is sweet. It probably weighted more than I can lift at my age. I’m letting it go.

Blessings, Anne