Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Proverbs 5:15
He who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19b
At the heart of any lesson on self-control is the principle of living within boundaries. Jesus referred to sin as a trespass in Matthew 6. This word is most often used today to mark boundary lines. No Trespassing signs clearly distinguish what is mine and what is not mine! Yet, curiosity often lures us to trespass visible and invisible lines. Proverbs 5 encourages young men to stay on a path of safe and righteous living, to drink water from their own wells. Proverbs 8 beautifully describes God’s boundary-setting act of Creation. And Proverbs 25:2-3 indicates that God has concealed certain matters which He alone authorizes revealing through “kings.” Entire chapters of Proverbs focus on controlling the tongue–a habitual offender which trespasses against others and sometimes even against one’s self! Teach your children that God created boundaries for peace, safety, and liberty. Encourage them to use their curiosity and words for good and not for evil!
For help in teaching this “C” principle to your kids, try the ideas in my book Proverbial Kids® Lesson Plans for Parents. See how Jasper learns to use “super vision” in detecting life’s invisible boundaries in Captain Curious and the Invisible Boundary Line. Also featuring the “C” theme is Verbose Verbena’s Backfire Advice–a “Draw-It-Yourself” story on the PK Short Stories page. Print this fun story and let your children draw the suggested illustrations as they learn the importance of controlling the tongue!
Proverbial Kids 