Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Hebrews 12:5-7
5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
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See the kid in the store who is screaming at the top of her lungs for the doll she absolutely must have or she will die? That is me.
How about the girl that threw down the lamp because she didn't get her way? Or the girl who sat underneath the dining table when the family wouldn't open Christmas gifts RIGHT THEN? Me.
In God's grace, He has saved me from who I could've become and has made me His Child, a New Creation. However, as a natural part of life, there are consequences. I wasn't disciplined as a child basically at all ..and there are consequences for that. I've been seeing that progressively more and more as I've grown older. While I plead no innocence for my sins of anger and control (other than in Christ paying for the penalty of my sin), I can't help but feel some pangs of the consequences.
Oh how I wish I was disciplined! Oh, how I wish I didn't have to struggle as mightily as I do now against this sin! How terribly humbling and depressing when I step back and see myself acting as childishly as I do. I don't mean to say that disciplined children don't struggle with sin (or sins of anger and control for that matter), but as Proverbs so clearly states, the rod drives folly far from the heart of a child. Folly is bound up in my heart and I thank God for the discipline He has so lovingly given me in various ways. Yet, many times, I feel so "far behind" because of the discipline I wasn't given as a child.
But this makes me think a few things. Wow, what an amazing blessing you've been given if you have been disciplined well by your parents! I know you may not understand how beautiful it is, but it is indeed wonderful.
Secondly, what a high calling for parents to be instruments of God by administering discipline for the sanctification of their child. What love that a parent, for a period of time, takes responsibility as God's instrument in sanctifying this little image bearer of God.
The calling is beyond my comprehension as I do not have my own children. But I am burdened beyond belief for any children that God may give me.. to not cultivate folly in their hearts.
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Hey Linn! Thanks for the post! It was a good reminder for me--for why I'm here, at this school, in the position that I'm in.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids of my own (obviously), but I feel like I've become a mother-figure, or a nanny of some sort, over night. Homeroom teaching in Taiwan is different from homeroom teaching in the States. I'm responsible for 14 7th graders who rarely see their parents, let alone get disciplined by them. It's exhausting. Many times, I forget why I have to put myself through this. I often wonder whether I am having a positive impact on them, or if I'm just screwing them up. Of course, with the help of God's grace and the people around me, I always turn back to see the bigger picture.
Kids are never easy to work with, and it's impossible to not let our individual follies have some sort of effect on them. However, I truly believe this is where God's grace and leading comes into the picture. God's grace covers all follies, all wrong doings, all guilt and shame through repentence and faith in Jesus Christ, and that includes all the misteachings that one commits or receives.
I'm beginning to realize that everything in life revolves around Christ and the application of the gospel. Especially when working with kids/teens, one can't go a day without being reminded of the gospel and reminded of what it means to show grace and practice discipline. Unfortunately, we humans are easily blind sighted. Exhaustion, stress, and well, money, are the devil's tools to disable us from seeing Christ in each situation, thus hindering us from giving and showing the proper grace and discipline that every child deserves and needs.
I use to have the same worry. I guess now, I just don't think about it--mainly because it's not something I need to worry about at this stage in my life. However, you're right. Parents do have the responsibility, and the privilege, of loving and disciplining their kids. To me though, it all comes down to whether or not parents are willing to commit and sacrifice to be a parent. After some experience in working with kids and parents, I've come to the conclusion that as long as parents are willing to be parents, own up to their mishaps, and follow the Lord's guidance, all is well. But of course, I'm not a parent. So I really wouldn't know until it happens to me, right? :)