The kindergartners have been studying living and non-living things, and last week in Science lab we compared living things (earthworms) to non-living things (gummy worms.)
Some things in life are terribly unpleasant but nonetheless essential. Disciplining children is one of those things. I don't enjoy meting out consequences for misbehavior, but I know discipline is very important to a child's well being.
The Bible says, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short tie as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:7-11
"Discipline" in Hebrews comes from the Greek word "paideia," and it refers to "the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose...commands and admonitions,...reproof and punishment."
Disciplining children is hard work! It involves so much more than punishment of misbehavior. It involves teaching children right from wrong, teaching them how to behave, teaching them what God expects of them. It's often unpleasant, but if we stick with it, we'll see start to see results in the lives of the children.
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