In our work with families, we have found many parents fail to discipline their children because they worry that it will break their children’s spirits. But the Bible tells a different story.
In Titus 2:4, older women are told to teach the younger women to love their children. That seems strange. We have to be taught to love our children? Perhaps that’s because love means discipline.
Proverbs13:24says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” This is not a debate about whether or not we should spank our kids; it’s about discipline — the kind of discipline that produces lasting results.
Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Jody and I often remind parents that we need to assume strength in our children (not weakness) and understand that in spite of the presumptions of modern psychology, firm discipline will not tear down our children’s self esteem, but it will demonstrate our love for them, and ultimately, it will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.
–Jenni
