A father's role in the life of his children is very
important. What he says to them can greatly influence their behavior or self
concept. Positive words of wisdom can shape their life for life. While on the other hand,
negative words can break their spirit. Throughout the book of Solomon it is
written, "My son heed to your father's instruction." Solomon the
wisest man knew the importance of relating important instructions to his sons. It is said that one's father is worth
more than a hundred schoolmasters. Teachers cannot take the position of a
father. The role of teachers are to educate while the role of the father is to
nurture and train. Train up a child the way he should grow and when he is old
he will not depart from it.
My late father, Vassel Oliver Hyre, was a very wise man. It
was his custom or habit to quote a proverb to me whenever the need arose.
These wise, clever sayings were
expressed in short sentences. He has left me a legacy far more valuable than
lands, silver and gold. When I was a child growing up in Jamaica, older folks
took it as their responsibility to share many of the proverbs written in this book with their off springs and my father was no exception.
Much wisdom can be gleaned from everyday proverbs that older
folks pass down to their generations. These should be used when needed in
conversation. For example, if your child does not see the need to complete
assignments on time then the proverb, "Procrastination is the thief of
time," would be a relevant proverb to quote and explain.
These powerful, popular, proverbs have helped to mold my
character throughout life . Even now, quite often when speaking to my siblings
or others, I love to quote the sayings of my father by remarking, “And as dada
would say.” By understanding life through these powerful, short, sweet and
sometime spicy words, as my fellow Jamaicans would say, I made wise choices
that lead me to be the successful woman I have grown to become , and still
aspiring to be.
My desire is to empower my present and future generations by
sharing these powerful and popular proverbs in writing. My hope is that parents
and significant others will rekindle the tradition of our fore parents who
delighted in sharing them with us , this rich legacy that was passed down to them and now to us.
As you read them, do take the liberty to glean whatever
message or messages they might convey to you that were otherwise not
stated. I have written the
interpretations the way I understood them, then and now.
Many of the proverbs in this book will be relevant to
different age groups. Use them wisely and accordingly.
Now, it’s time to read, assimilate , enjoy and share!
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