A Word To Moms

Discipline your children while there is hope.Otherwise you will ruin their lives.Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

Proverbs 19:18-19

Adam Clark said, “This is a hard precept for a parent. Nothing affects the heart of a parent so much as a child’s cries and tears. But it is better that the child may be caused to cry when the correction may be healthful to his soul, than that the parent should cry afterwards when the child is grown to man’s estate and his evil habits are sealed for life.”

The Duke of Windsor commented, “The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children.” So sad.

Recently my friend Christy stayed with us for a few days with her three small children. It was a blessing to see what a loving and wise mother she is. What I loved was that they had freedom to just be children, and yet even the four-year-old boy understood there are boundaries. This was clear in the moment when her son crossed the boundary and was too rough with his little sister. Christy intervened. She not only stopped the bad behavior, but she took the time to explain why and to pray with him. Accidents like spilled milk or broken cups were dealt with like they should be, as accidents. But issues of character and kindness and truth and right were dealt with quickly, lovingly, and yet firmly. Good job, Christy!

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Our proverb today advises us to be quick to discipline but slow to anger. Moms, a hot temper is a very unhelpful parenting tool. It teaches the kids to be afraid of you. They will distrust you, or avoid you, or copy you. Oh, dread the day you see your bad behavior displayed in their bad behavior. Discipline, on the other hand, helps children to feel secure. If boundaries are explained, kids learn the whys along with the whats. Have you failed in the past? Who hasn’t? Today is a new day.

Let’s Pray

O Lord, it is such a responsibility to raise children rightly. I feel overwhelmed and underequipped. And so I turn to you, the perfect Father. Please guide me with your wisdom, and cover my mistakes.

One Year Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 28:1–29:30; Romans 5:6-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 19:18-19