DISCIPLINE

At her son’s request, a woman took him to hockey practice each morning before school. They had to leave the house at 4 a.m.

After attending school all day, the boy would then go to basketball practice or football practice, depending on the season.

Of course, there was homework interspersed with scout meetings, soccer practice and sleep-overs with friends on the weekends. His parents could see that he was becoming exhausted but hated to step in to limit his activities in any way. They wanted him to be “happy”.

Why have we, as a society, become so child-centered? We approve of anything and everything our children want to do whether it is good for them or not - all for the sake of giving our children a “happy childhood”. Haven’t we gone a little too far?

Disciplining our children means not only correcting them for wrong behavior. Disciplining them also means giving clear direction to them as they try to move in too many directions at once. Discipline means helping them maintain a schedule which allows their growing bodies to rest and to get sufficient nutrition to ensure proper physical and emotional well-being.

Discipline your son (daughter) and he (she) will give you rest; he (she) will give delight to your heart. Proverbs 29:17

Heavenly Father, please provide the wisdom I need in guiding my children in wise living. In Jesus’ name. Amen.