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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Proverbs 6:20 MSG

 
Remember all the times your mom or dad asked you if, “he jumped off a bridge, would you?” Now fast forward a decade or so and how many times have you said that to your children? Numerous times I will say something to my boys and think, wow I sound just like my parents. I’m sure my kids roll their eyes just like I did when I went to my room but that advice I got years ago stuck with me. Your advice will stick with your kids.
 
Now that I am a parent I find the things I tell my kids most often are hard lessons I learned from mistakes that I made.  I don’t want my children to learn the hard way on their own. The same is true about my parents. They tried to teach me not to make the same mistakes they did.
 
My mother use to read Bible stories to me and I now take her teachings and read from the same books. We also read Proverbs to both our boys and I pray one day they will do the same with their children. The advice and what you teach  your children today will influence what advice and teachings they give your grandchildren.
 

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 6:20 KJV

Here are some proverbs of Solomon: Children with good sense make their parents happy, but foolish children make them sad.

Proverbs 10:1 CEV

First of all I would like to thank each of you for your prayers, emails, and tweets. It meant a lot and I personally feel God was with Cohen and us in the room. For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, our son had to get an EEG for Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). He is a wild child and because of his usual rambunctious personality and the fact he is only almost three, we were expecting the Children’s Hospital staff to tie him down. Many of the aDailyProverb community and our friends, family, and church prayed for a successful test and for Cohen specifically.

Before going into how the test went I want to explain why we chose this verse and how we are tying it with our son today. To be honest it maybe a stretch because my wife and I have always viewed this verse as being directed to an older child or even an adult. Even at my age my actions are a reflection of my parents. After today though we viewed this verse more broadly.

Our son, Cohen, was amazing. He laid down without being constrained, no medical equipment was broken, and even the staff was shocked he did so well. He did announce many times how he felt saying; “I am mad!” He even fell asleep on cue. To be honest at times I felt praying with my three year old for a successful test was something he was not ready for but anyone who knows our son would not have believed how well he did. He even said thank you to the nurse after the procedure.

Now some of you maybe wandering what if he acted out would that make him a fool? No we wouldn’t feel that way, especially at three years old but if we didn’t ask God to help maybe I would feel foolish. I hope nobody minds us making a turn and sharing our experience but after today Cohen made us so happy for a day that was terrible and it was another level of faith our family reached. Thanks again for all your prayers!