Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Taking Your Father's Advice!

The first way in which we learn to take our father's advice is through simple obedience. A child is told what to do and then corrected if the command is not followed. Through direction obedience early in life, we can learn that commands are to be obeyed. The command may come from our earthly father, or from our Father in heaven. Commands from God our Father can be found written in His Word, the Bible.


As a child grows up, sometimes the directions are not always given as simple commands. Often the directives change to suggestions or advice based on life experience. The father wants to allow his child to make his own decision. Input is given for the child's consideration.


A wise child will consider what his father says - even if the advice is given in terms of a suggestion rather than a command. My father rarely gives direct commands. My siblings and I often get advice or suggestions, but it seems that all involved in the conversations understand that in the end, we (as the children) are responsible for our own decisions. I enjoy getting my father's advice, but sometimes I don't exactly follow it.


Other times, I like to follow it word for word. Especially when the advice is somewhat unusual as in this case. . .


When I begin talking about marrying John, my family wanted to know what my plans were once I moved to Ohio. Well, my plans are to look for another job and to work somewhere hopefully as an engineer not too far from where John works. Once I find a job, we plan to find another place to live since John's current apartment doesn't have a guest room.


Now my dad retired last year and has really enjoyed having the time to work on the many projects he has going on. He is of the opinion that I should simply take a break from working. So his fatherly advice (often stated) was that I should "sit around and eat grapes."


As this advice was so often given, I have been very careful to follow it in the week and a half that I've been in Ohio. I have made sure to sit down every single day and have eaten grapes several times a week! John wanted to make sure that we showed how carefully we were following dad's advice, so we took a picture!


10 comments:

PoetLady said...

If a mere sister gave a suggestion, would you do it and post photos of it or is that a dad-only privilege?:)

Looks like you're happy and having fun:)

Maria

Luke and Michele said...

I laughed until I cried when I read this blog! That is too funny!

Love,
Michele

Rob said...

So is the whistle around John's neck to determine grapes/second consumed?

Anna Naomi said...

That's just plain funny! I wasn't sure where the blog post was leading... then the end pictures sure made me smile! =)

Elijah said...

Lol, I tagged this on http://delicious.com/elijahlofgren/ with tags like "God Bible advice family blogs" before I finished reading it, then I added the "funny" tag! :)

Thanks for posting this. :)

Miriam said...

Maria - I can't give any promises about following every suggestion a "mere" sibling would give, but you never know. Do you have any suggestions for us? :)

Michele - I'm glad you had fun reading it! I was laughing while taking the picture and writing the story!

Rob - the thing around John's neck is actually a name tag (like we had at work). It just looks like a whistle.

Anna - I'm glad it made you smile

Elijah - It's great to know you think so highly of my blog that you would tag it before finishing it!

Thanks for all the comments!

Anonymous said...

Miriam,
This is too cute! And kind of romantic! OOOO do a sense some romantic tendancies being passed down to the matter of fact Miriam? Sure do miss you. I have some motion stills for the power point Mama bought and I have lost my teacher :(, you were always available for me and I miss the learning of new things. And just miss talking to you, but I know you are happy and that is what matters! Love you! Natalie

Miriam said...

Natalie, Romantic? I don't know if eating grames is romantic. Now, taking pictures of it and posting was totally fun!

I'm still just a local phone call or a quick email away! Do call me if you have any questions. I'm not working so have plenty of time to talk.

Love ya!

Anonymous said...

ohhh, on the contrary my friend...eating grapes can be very romantic. It's all in how you see things. Haven't you ever seen the old movie Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. They make eating grapes very romantic. I know, I know I grew up watching all the old favs and I am a hopeless romantic. That's what makes the word go round! Love ya! Natalie

Miriam said...

Can't say I've ever seen that movie. . . But I think you can make anything a bit romantic! I certainly have been having a great time with John!