Proverbs 19:18, says, “Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.”

I think people sometimes mistakenly consider discipline and punishment as the same. In my view, discipline eliminates the need for punishment. My simple definition of the word discipline is, “knowing the right thing and doing it.”

Our responsibility as parents, for those reading that are blessed to have children, is to make capable and responsible adults of them. When they are small, they don’t necessarily know right and wrong, and need to be taught. As they age, they may have moments where they know what is right, but need parents to provide the discipline to do what is right. With God’s help, they mature to the point that they can know and do what is right by themselves,”self” discipline.

The most important “right thing” we need to teach them is the Good News of Salvation through Jesus.

Like all the standards God sets for us, we can never completely achieve this, but we must try.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Dear Lord, help us remember that we are not alone in the responsibility of raising children, you are with us, and will support us if we bring them up with the fear and love of you. Give us the patience, wisdom and determination to raise our children in the way they should go. In Jesus’ name we pray.