“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons” (Hebrews 12:7,8).
Disciplining your children is difficult, but it proves you love them.
When I see children disobeying their parents, I choose not to worry about it. I don’t get concerned, because they are not my children. However, if one of my sons disobeyed me, I would feel terrible! I would take some action that would discourage him from ever disobeying me again. As they grew up, my sons knew I would not hesitate to act if they misbehaved.
When I took both of them home to the United States for college, I told them, “If you get yourself in trouble, I am on the next plane.” They knew I meant it! Why would I react that way? Because I’m their mother, and it’s my job to train and discipline my kids. I love them and I don’t want them to grow up to become ungodly, unsuccessful men.
It’s a strange thing, but children want their parents to care enough to discipline them. They understand the motivation is love.
Discipline is not pleasant to give or receive, but the result of good discipline is a good person. If we parents don’t correct our kids, life will do it for us. That discipline will NOT be administered by the loving design of a parent!
Scripture says God uses discipline. And He is the most loving parent of all.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
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