The verse echoes verse 21 but adds the specific grief of the mother — 'bitterness to her that bare him.' Both parents carry the weight of a child's foolishness. The word 'bitterness' here is a strong term for deep, personal anguish. A child's choices do not exist in isolation — they ripple outward into the lives of those who love them most. This is both a warning and an invitation to choose wisdom for love's sake.
Memory phrase: Choices touch our family.
Talk about it: How do your choices affect both your parents?
Prayer: God, help my life bring joy to my parents.