Godly Parenting

I was so excited yesterday when I found (after MUCH searching) a long lost book called The Bible Promise Book. It is a very handy little book full of scripture divided into categories. I stumbled across a verse that meant so much to me as a parent.

Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. Proverbs 29: 17

This verse speaks volumes to me. From working with small children, and having a degree in early childhood, I have known for many years how important it is to teach children rules and to give them boundaries and consequences. I see everyday in my classroom the effect of parents who don't give their children boundaries or teach them to respect other people. Children HAVE to have parents that guide them and teach them the appropriate ways to interact with the world around them. Part of our job as parents is to discipline our children when they do not follow these rules or stay within certain boundaries. Imagine what it would be like if there were never any consequences to our doing wrong . . . No prison for thieves and murderers, no late fees for late payments, no tickets for speeding. What would deter most people from doing these things without a consequence? Children are exactly that, children. We are the parents, and it is out of pure LOVE for our children that we give them boundaries and then consequences when they don't stay within them. I have known this as an educator, but seeing it in scripture, really delights my soul. God has given me boundaries out of love just as I do for Noah. I delight his soul when I do his will, just as Noah delights me and brings me peace as he learns the appropriate ways to interact with those around him.

Thank you God for my precious child. Thank you for giving me the strength to lovingly give him boundaries and rules so that he will grow into a loving, respectful, honorable man of God someday.

Kathy