Discipline

My son is just over two and-a-half years old now. I love him dearly. He’s so smart and truly a very loving child. I’m not sure if I’d say that–at least up to this point–that he’s “in his ‘terrible twos,’” but I’m slowly beginning to see where he is starting to need regular discipline.

Don’t misunderstand me or the word, “discipline.” I mean just that: discipline. This isn’t the same thing as punishment. Some of you might say, “That’s obvious,” but perhaps there are some who don’t see or can’t make the distinction.

Today was one of those days where I can see that my son is starting to need discipline. He’s a boy, and yes, boys will be boys. Boys, generally, are not as compliant as girls. And you know what? That’s okay! We don’t need to make them like girls. We need boys to be the way our Father made them.

Having said that, however, I’m not advocating that we let them run wild. Just like a wild horse needs to be brought under control in order to be ridden, a wild horse is still a wild horse.

A week or so ago, I wrote about “getting beaten by God.” While the tone of that post wasn’t necessarily on discipline, I feel as though God is showing me through my son how He feels when He needs to discipline me! Speaking only for myself, I hate having to discipline my son at times. As upset as he can make me at times, I look in his sweet face and part of me says: “Oh let it go. Look at those beautiful brown eyes,” etc. But then the other part of me, that little voice inside, says: “No, you are raising a man. You need to teach him right from wrong and if you screw up, there are consequences.”

Indeed, I’ve never been a fan of the school of thought that says corporal punishment “harms” the child and damages their self-esteem. That’s bunk. My parents didn’t shy away from giving me a swat when I deserved it as a child–and I know I deserved it many times! What kind of man would I be had they let things go all the time and not shown me that when you make bad choices, there is pain involved? What kind of parent would lie to their child by withholding discipline and making the child believe that there are no consequences to bad behavior?

He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. –Proverbs 13:24.

I how how clear the Bible is. Do you hate your child? Don’t discipline them. Do you love your child? Then discipline them diligently!

Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol. –Proverbs 23:13-14.

Did you get that? If you discipline your child you are saving their life! Why won’t so many parents step up and love their children by disciplining them?

It’s not easy. Parenting takes courage. Parenting is not for cowards nor the neglectful. This is especially true for fathers and sons. I believe that of all parental relationships, the relationship of father and son is the glue that holds any nation together. Don’t agree with me? Check out how quickly neighborhoods deteriorate when fathers neglect their sons. Neighborhood declines lead to cities declining. Get enough large cities in decline and you have entire nations at risk.

Take a look at the United States. You tell me how our nation can continue without fathers stepping up to their responsibilities to teach their sons how to become men?

May He Increase!