Good Morning Friends,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not turn from it. ... Folly is bound up in the heart of
a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:6,
15)
We all need training. Our natural bent is
toward sin and rebellion. We are born selfish and self-centered, interested
only in our own needs and desires. Change from that natural bent requires training
and training requires discipline. A child is to be gently, lovingly, and slowly
taught to respect authority, honor others, and say “no” to his own selfishness.
It’s a sad thing to see an older child who
has never been taught these things through discipline. We call them brats. They
are unbridled, selfish, and no fun at all to be around. They have a hard time
fitting in with other children and getting along in the world. Their parents
have done them no favor in allowing them to continue to indulge their
selfishness.
It’s an even sadder thing to see an adult who
was never taught these things as a child. They become outcasts to society. They
regularly have trouble with authority and so have problems at work and with the
law. They have trouble finding friends because they have trouble being friends.
Their family relationships are strained and sometimes broken. They are a drain
on society, not a contributor to it. Their parents meant well. They thought
they were showing love by giving in to their child. They were wrong!
Most of us can look back on our childhood
years and see how our parents trained and disciplined us. It wasn’t pleasant at
the time and we didn’t like it. But from our adult position we can see how
important it was in helping us develop into who we are.
Thank God for the training and discipline
your parents gave you. Training and discipline are the marks of real love.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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