What is wisdom?

As defined by the dictionary...

wis·dom (wiz′dəm)

noun

1. the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; sagacity
2. learning; knowledge; erudition: the wisdom of the ages
3. Now Rare wise discourse or teaching
4. Wisdom of Solomon
5. a wise plan or course of action

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One must have adequate understanding of the difference between wisdom and knowledge.

You can be the smartest person in the world and still lack wisdom. I see it day in and day out in my job. Very bright kids continuing to make the same mistakes over and over and not understanding the result of their mistakes. Adults do this as well, it is not something unique to kids. Many of these bright individuals have lots of knowledge. Let's look at drugs for example. Schools and parents for the most part have usually done a decent job at educating kids of the dangers of drugs, usually by the time children are in the 7th grade. So why do many of these children continue to try and abuse drugs? Many say that they want to test and see for themselves, that their curiosity gets the best of them. Many of these do so despite the repeated warnings that you can become addicted even after the first try or worse with some drugs possibly causing brain damage and death after one use. Knowledge is not benefiting these children. They lack insight and discernment, both of which are part of wisdom. A wise person will abstain from drugs because they can learn from others mistakes as well as see the possible ramifications of their actions if they were to so choose to try them. They can see down the road at the many scary possibilities. They do not gamble with their lives nor the lives of others for simple curiosity.

Wisdom is the simplest road to take most of the time. While in the Bible it details wisdom as being a gift, one granted to Solomon in 2 Chronicals 1, it is also one that can be utilized by anyone. Unfortunately, the value of wisdom seems to be lacking a great deal in our society today, which is full of individuals living for the moment, only caring about this moment. Few see the long term possibilities of their actions or even on the generations to come. This in turn has created a world full of entitlement and self indulgence. I fear it will only get worse for generations to come.

As you grow older you will be tested beyond measure. Only God and his ultimate power and grace can see you through things to come. Through God you can gain wisdom, if you only ask. Of course as humans you will make mistakes, even Soloman did some things that one might consider beneath a man of God. But, you must practice from an early age trying to see the outcome of your choices. With discernment you will be able to see under others intentions, and therefore prevent some harm done to you and others. Wisdom will also make it easier for you to discern between right and wrong, because there is grey areas that are often difficult to tell. There is no black and white and you must never assume that there is. If only it were that easy.

This is pretty much what I consider the basics of wisdom, but it goes far more in depth depending on the situations. I will detail more as I go, I am certain. But in the mean time, please utilize one of my favorite books in the Bible, Proverbs. Throughout, you will find many of King Solomon's teachings on wisdom. Here is just the beginning...

Proverbs 1:2-6
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

I pray that each of you seek wisdom and use it everyday, even in the most mundane of situations.

Introduction

James 1:2-5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

I a not a writer, I never claimed to be one. So when the thought came to me last night while laying awake in bed, I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it work. Like many great ideas I get while laying awake at night, most dissipate by the time the next day comes. I always teased my husband that I need a notebook right next to my bed that I could write my great ideas down and not forget them. Fortunately, this idea is one of the few that stuck. Maybe a sign of it being a decent idea.

Looking throughout my life I tried to identify those characters that helped mold who I am and what I found to be most valuable. Sadly, most of what I learned I cannot put a face to the teacher. I realize when I was young I was far more philosophical than most, at least to me. I knew I was "off" so I kept most ideas buried inside my head. I remember waiting on the school bus one day and thinking and debating what it meant to actually be an adolescent. Not the physical aspect of it but the actual mentality behind it. So here I am many years later, a psycho-therapist working at a mental health hospital with children and adolescents, trying to dispense wisdom to them as best as I can. On top of that I am trying to raise 3 children the best I can and prepare them for this world and the many trials they will face as they go through it. It scares me beyond words that I cannot be there and protect them from all the evil that is out there. So the best I can do is teach and equip them to make the best decisions for them. The best I can do at those times is pray, hope, and lead when I can.

To my children...

This blog is my written hope to each of you. I fear that I will not equally teach you and miss an important lesson for the one of you that needs it the most. Hopefully, this will prevent that as much as possible. As I keep record of these by blog, my hope it to also keep a hard copy record for each of you to have when you get older. Hopefully, it will be worth something to each of you. I pray God uses my words to lead and guide you throughout your lives. Your character is as important to me as your health and happiness. If I can help mold that, I will do everything in my power to be successful at it.

Each night I pray that God will grant you certain character traits that I feel God wants you to have. Some of these include, grace, wisdom, strength, courage, discernment, integrity, honesty, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self control. As I continue on this journey I will identify more traits that you will need as well. Please bare with me in this, as I am by far not an expert. Hopefully, you will take what I give you and add it to all the other wisdom's you will gain in this life.