SOME THINGS YOUR CHILDREN WILL THANK YOU LATER FOR

“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:” “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Prov.3:11; Heb.12:7

     Children get into trouble. Sometimes the impulsive temptations will even threaten their lives or the lives of others. This calls for immediate attention on the part of the parents. And the kind that works reformation in the child’s life and not an escalation of disobdience.

     This common lesson of proper discipline seen within families is likewise seen from GOD. His is the same lesson as child discipline. Children are emotionally vulnerable and this calls for a tender heart from the parent so as to not exaggerate the punishment, in whose abuse can deeply scar their little hearts. Nor should the parent minimize the punishment that leaves the child free to stretch further their natural propensity to disobey their own conscience in wrongdoing.

     Repeatedly it is seen on record how many prison inmates are incarcerated because they received no discipline or exaggerated punishment from their parents. Many murderers, robbers and thieves all stand united in this neglect on the part of the parents to mold the character of their children to be productive citizens. And then there are the prostitutes who are looked down on as the moral scum of society. And those who hire them share in this degraded station in life. And yet statistics show that virtually all of these women were sexually abused as children. Their little tender hearts never received a proper education in something as simple as love. While in others, something as simple as training social courtesy is often neglected in the child's upbringing.

     A short testimony: A dear friend and home-care nurse, Tina Carpenter, was raising two children on her own: a boy and a girl. Her little boy, Frank got into some mischief and was caught. He knew he was going to be spanked. But his mother told him, “I will take your punishment. Now, you have to spank me the way I would you.” Frank broke down into tears, saying, “I can’t hit you, Mom!” Tina didn’t proceed any further. From that moment forward, little Frank Carpenter was careful in all things and never got into trouble again. Although this is a rare situation, there is a time and a place for all things as Solomon said.

     There are many times when children, later in life will thank their parents for the discipline they received in childhood. I stand among them. Whenever my foolish impulsiveness got me into trouble my father would smack my butt. And I felt it! And from time to time, even the belt was employed to send the message of his displeasure. But without fail, after he disciplined me, the next day, all was forgiven. He never held a grudge or lorded it over me. And when I gave my heart to Christ and learned his promise, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us,” I rejoiced that my earthly father held to this same principle.

     Let every parent pray to the LORD to exercise proper discipline and to provide explanation to the child as to the reason for its use.