“Discipline your child, and he will give you peace. He will bring delight to your soul.”
– Proverbs 29:17
Kids love to push boundaries, even from an early age. And as a parent, it can be so tough to feel like all you do is punish your child and say no.
So, when I discipline my kids (not nearly enough as I probably should) I tell them, “if it didn’t love you, I’d let you get away with whatever you want to do. It’s easier not to be involved.”
But love means I want to make them the best people they can be. And this promise is that after complaining and whining when they lose their video games or have to go to their room, they will repay me with peace.
And I will be delighted in that.
I’m sure this Proverb immediately brought to mind the Proverb 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
I love scripture backed up with scripture!
Don’t forget that your wise instruction and correction to your children now, are forming their present AND future behaviors, beliefs, thoughts and actions.
You have a future adult, potential husband, wife and/or parent (maybe even a leader!) in the very palm of your hands from the moment that they are born. You do them a great disservice by not taking that responsibility seriously, and with great care! And don’t forget that they ‘won’t depart from it’, as this will include your instruction and training, but also what you SHOW them, by YOUR actions,,,how you act, live, speak,
and treat others, and importantly, how you treat your spouse. Be the one they want to imitate. 😊