How do you discipline your children?
Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.
Proverbs 19:18 NLT
Discipline is vital for children. The earlier and more consistent we are as parents the greater the chance our children will not have to be disciplined as much when they are older. So how do we discipline our children. Proverbs 13:24 tells us not to spare the rod but some believe that spanking children can cause long term damage or is even child abuse. I’m a big believer in a parent knows their child and there is not a system that works for every child. The key is to have a disciplinary system that is consistently used and is beneficial to the child.
We have two children and they are completely opposite in their behavior. Our oldest son will cry if we look at him wrong. Our youngest on the other hand will do something that he knows is wrong, smile and say I will put myself in time out. After being introduced to Proverbs 13:24, he has greatly improved his behavior. Discipline that works for one child does not work for the other.
God will discipline us differently as well. Some of us only need to feel that God is disappointed while some of us need Him to use the rod. Children that are disciplined by their parents and have set boundaries will understand that choices have consequences. They will also later in life realize that the discipline you applied was out of love. Knowing that your discipline was love will give them a better chance of keeping God in their lives and knowing that his correction is also love.
So what if as parents we do everything the Bible tells us to do and are as close to being perfect parents as possible? Does that mean our children will not do things when they are an adult to ruin their lives? Unfortunately the answer is no. Even God who is a perfect parent, has children that ruin their own lives.
I am not even close to being in contention for parent of the year but I do know if I discipline, love, teach, and continue to show them a life with God, the chances that they will live a happy and purposeful life are a lot better than if I didn’t. More importantly if they lose their way they will know where to find love and direction to THE way.
Chris Riehl
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 19:18 KJV
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