Here in southwest Michigan we’re longing for warmer weather, but tonight we’ll dip back to 22 degrees. Our longing is premature, though, considering the general rule is to expect random frosts till mid-May. Actually I’ve never risked planting flowers until after Mother’s Day for just that reason.

One spring years ago I invested in 4 flats of pink impatiens, 36 plants to a flat, intending to put them along the north side of our Illinois home. Though I’d bought them the day before Mother’s Day, I knew enough not to plant until after the weekend.

That night’s forecast was for a hard frost, so after supper I moved my young plants to a safer, warmer spot in the yard. But the next morning when I checked on them, I found they were icy-crisp and twisted with the cold. What had gone wrong?

It turned out I’d put them in the worst possible place to stay out of harm’s way. We had a gentle ditch running along the front of our yard that Nate used to call a “swale.” I thought this mini-valley would offer protection for my impatiens, but warm air rises and cold air falls, so plants in a valley are at high risk.

My intentions were good, but knowledge was minimal, and results were poor.

How many times does this happen in other life-categories? With good intentions we might try to compliment someone but end up foot-in-mouth, or we give a gift that turns out to be totally inappropriate.

And what about spiritually? Maybe we charge ahead with the intention of challenging someone about sin, but our inappropriate judging drives them from the Lord. Or we refuse to take a criticism, pridefully thinking we’re above it. Or maybe we share something that should have been kept confidential, disguising it as a prayer request.

Do we get credit with God for having had good intentions, even though the results were bad? How does God want us to prevent these unintentional disasters?

He tells us, “Get educated.” In the wisdom of Proverbs he says:

• Pay attention, and gain understanding.
• The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.
• Do not forget my words or turn away from them.
• The unfolding of God’s words brings light.
• By paying attention to the wise, the simple get knowledge.
• Whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
• The one who gets wisdom loves life.
• The one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
• All who follow the Lord’s precepts have good understanding.
• From the Lord’s mouth come wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Following this counsel will prevent us from making all kinds of unintended errors. As for my swale-mistake with the impatiens, I learned what not to do. And if we make unintentional blunders in the spiritual realm, we can gain wisdom from those, too…. for next time.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)