Welcomed Discipline

Read Proverbs 13

A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

Proverbs 13:1

Adults who know how to practice loving discipline are grown-up versions of children who have been wisely trained. The cycle or process begins with an adult. Until discipline is offered, a child has no choice between acceptance and refusal. The earlier in life that loving discipline is offered, the greater a child’s opportunity to develop wisdom.

Both the wise child and the mocker are the products of training. Mockery is a form of disrespect that must be confronted early in life. Someone who is young and a mocker has not benefited from early discipline. Perhaps the child’s capacity to make fun of others was considered cute. Eventually that skill becomes an ingrained habit. Such a youth has become so accustomed to disrespecting others through mockery that he or she finds it almost impossible to listen.

Children aren’t born wise. It takes loving and courageous discipline to teach them wisdom. When that isn’t given, mockery and other natural evidences of sin take over. Wise parents seek help from God and his Word every step of this process.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Accept correction.

Dear Lord, forgive my own parents’ failures and thank you for their successes. Help me to benefit from all the past by learning and applying wisdom.