Caution and acting with wisdom can be synonyms.  There is a difference too between caution and laziness.  Last week we looked at the power and improved self esteem that courage can bring to our children.  Unbridled courage leads to don Quixote’s – always chasing imaginary windmills.  Directed courage leads to entrepreneurs that every family and country needs.  Caution helps the courageous not to step on snakes.

As parents we have much more life experience than our children.  It is our responsibility to train our children in the mechanics of caution.  There is a difference between putting up walls around our children so they never hurt themselves – that only works until they grow to the age where they see the walls and move away from the wall-maker.  Our job is to teach our children danger signals, how to detect potential harmful friendships, relationships or ventures and what to do when these are detected.  They become the wall-builders, not us.

Growing up in African, I loved to explore in the jungle, along river beds or dig for treasures in burial hills.  I learned quickly to watch carefully where I stepped.  There was a tiny green snake smaller than my hand named quia quia, meaning quick, quick in the Yoruba language.  Its venom would attack the nervous system and with minutes the victim was dead.  I learned to look on the overhanging tree limbs for pythons and poisonous spiders or lizards.  I learned to watch for the army ant trails.  I knew these small ants could eat a chicken in less than an hour.  My mother and father did not have to hold my hand when I was exploring, but they either taught me or had my friends teach me dangers to avoid.

As parents we also need to be brave with our children.  Regardless of what today’s society says, there are absolutes in this world – created by God and for His glory.  It is OK to keep our children from things on the internet that can entrap them in lifelong addictions – like pornography.  It is OK to show our children pictures of lungs destroyed by smoking.  It is OK to show our children the dangers of drugs.

Caution signs on our roads warn us to slow down and look both ways before confidently proceeding across an intersection.  Caution signs learned by our children cause them also to slow down and look both ways before plowing ahead with all the courage and enthusiasm of youth with the world ahead of them.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.