Proverbs is replete with verses that tell us that it is the parents’ responsibility to train and discipline their children. Proverbs 13:24 says that if we love our children, we will discipline them: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” Prov 13:24 RSV.
One of the biggest downfalls of the whole idea of “discipline” is that we view it as a bad thing—as something we have to do when things are out of control. If we could change our “discipline” thinking from “I have to spank him ‘coz he just keeps it up” to “Disciplining my children (not necessarily just spanking just the entire discipline package—training, teaching, consequences, punishment) is what I do all of the time because I love them.”
Truly, a child feels loved and secure when he knows what is expected—when boundaries are set for him (since he is unable to set them for himself). Instead of looking at discipline is a last ditch effort to get control of our children, let’s look at it as part of the entire training package—loving, laughing, playing, training, disciplining, and more. Not a terrible thing we have to do—but part of the entire responsibility of raising our children for Christ.
