Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15 AMP

Today’s Proverb is familiar, but often misquoted and misunderstood. Kids aren’t stupid and they don’t need to be beaten with a big stick. On the contrary, the wisdom laced in this ancient verse is, in my estimation, more about our offspring being full of energy, emotion and eagerness…just like we were. Therefore, it’s up to us to give them something to believe in, something to fight for. They need us to point them toward the mountain, then teach them how to climb it.

Here, where we live, in Custer County, one of the local teams just one the 1A State Championship title for football. And although we homeschool, we enjoy cheering all of our teams on.

I played a little ball myself and my family as a whole is pretty athletic. So I recognized some unique attributes in the group of Thomas boys that went 15-0 this season. Things like that don’t “just” happen.

Though we use the term “playing” to describe the re-creation of the game of football, to be crowned #1 requires a whole lot more than random running, throwing and tackling. Discipline is the “sir word” of anyone who has ever won anything worthwhile. And that word is comprised of several other choice words, but three in particular.

Work. Relationship. Will.

Work is basic. It is the something that has to be done before anything of merit can happen. Relationship is the reason why the thing of merit has any merit. It’s the glue that holds everything together even after the big events are over. Will is the oomph that gives each person the gumption to keep pushing when the “want to” quits wanting to!

“Work, relationship, and will” can change foolishness into a generation of young men and women who will take care of a community when the rest are old and gray.

And when they are our age…they will show us how much they appreciated all the support.