Raising Wise Children

21 we’ve come to realize that God never did that in response to our faithfulness. Our path has been marked by failure and missteps along the way. Over the years we came to learn more and more about our own weakness and inability. By ourselves, we never have been able to accomplish anything of great worth. But, thankfully, we also have learned more and more about our great God and His remarkable love for us! So, our life verses expanded to include the 2 verses immediately preceding verses 5 and 6 – this is really what Proverbs is all about: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4, NIV). When God’s love and faithfulness permeates your life so that His gifts are like a necklace you’re always wearing or like words inscribed on your inner being, something dramatically changes for a person. You stop trying to do good to earn God’s pleasure, and you just begin to bask in His constant and loyal love for you. You begin to live as Christ gaining favor with