Punishment versus Discipline
These are my notes from our spiritual parenting class at church on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. We are reading and using the DVD series for “Spiritual Parenting” by Michelle Anthony.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SJ1ADO
When we need to correct our children, we need to focus on the end goal. Healing and spiritual course correction are our goals, not punishment. Disciplining is and should always be purposeful.
This leads to a harvest of righteousness and peace. Our next step after the pain of discipline is strengthening feeble arms and knees. Letting our children know this action does not and will not define them.
Pain and brokenness which follows discipline can make us disabled. Our kids (and we ourselves) need tools to deal with the challenges of life to walk on a level road. We must make margin in our lives.
Hebrews 12:11-13 NIV
“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. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”
See it at YouVersion.com:
“Shock and appall” cue our children to acceptable behavior, but it can send kids both into hiding and into shame and guilt.
The fact that our children are sinful shouldn’t appall us. What do parents do that breaks kids’ trust in us?
Sent from my iPad