The institution of family is being attacked from various directions. Many children grow up in a home without a father. The death of a father could make them fatherless. A considerable number live with mothers who are divorced, separated or abandoned. Sadly, in many families’ father is present physically but distant spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.” (Proverbs 19:18)
Lack of gratitude: Gifts are received with gratitude. Children are gifts from the Lord and should be received with joy and gratitude. (Psalm 127:3) The gracious gift from God is precious and treasure. Nurturing, caring, developing, and growing a child in the right way is an expression of gratitude towards God.
Lack of stewardship: God gives talents, gifts, resources, opportunities, time, and innumerable assets to all humans. Relationships are also God’s gifts for humans. A prudent wife (husband) is from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:14) The relationship with children is also beneficial for both parents and children. Failing in duties and responsibilities towards spouses and children is a lack of stewardship.
Negligence: Disciplining a child is the primary responsibility of parents. It is far better for a child to cry under correction than for parents to cry under the results of neglected discipline.
Season: A Tamil proverb says: “If it is not bent when five, it cannot be bent at fifty.” A child could be disciplined up to a certain age. A discipline that is not imbibed when a child is five years old can never be imbibed as an adult of fifty years. When children are still young, that is the season for growth, as well as hope.
Lethargic: Parents who do not discipline their children, prepare them for destruction. Lethargic attitude makes them active agents of death and destruction of a child. Wise parents do not have the desire to destroy their children. But, when they do not use God-given verbal reproof, biblical counseling, prayer, and corporal punishment (spare the rod and spoil the child), they expose them to death. (Proverbs 13:24)
Do I appreciate and affirm discipline for children?