least when I do these things my mother beats me. Then I get her attention.” You see, a little child understands that he needs discipline and he wants this. No child lives normally in a society in which he is permitted to do anything he wants to do. If a child never leams the “No” of an earthly parent, it is difficult for him to understand thè “No” of the society in which he lives. We, as parents, need to lay down the guide lines. We should lay down a line to the right and a line to the left and then say to our children, in effect, “You can wobble around inside these two walls but over this side you do not go.” Moral values are not something one leams automatically. We all must learn that the good brings its rewards, and that the evil is punished. There are certain ethics and traditions by which all must abide based on laws, culture, heritage and divine sovereignty. The Scriptures deal with this constantly. The Lord spoke to the young lad Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that hears it shall tingle. In that day, I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken con cerning his house: When I begin, I will also make an end.” Eli was the preacher and had two sons who were wicked men. Instead of disciplining his sons he reaped a whirlwind of tragedy to himself as well as to the house of Israel. The Lord continues, “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made them selves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacri fice nor offering for ever.” May God help us to so live as Christ would have us live that it would never be true in our lives. * * * A chip on the shoulder will generally indicate that there'swood up higher. * * * Counting time is not so important as making the time count.
Chapter Nine E very parent needs to understand that love without discipline is pure sentiment. Discipline without love is tyranny. They both need to be com bined into one individual who, him self, has been dedicated to the Lord. A father or mother in the home have the ideal circumstance in which to dis cipline, guide and direct a child. This is the manner in which God ordained that the home should be established. Because the parents provide for the child they establish a real understand ing. They are able to gain confidence and acceptance. Discipline can natural ly follow. How many of our discipline prob lems are accentuated in the home if there is not real love, if the child feels he is deprived of the normal affection and attention the father and mother should give him. It may be the father is too busy. Perhaps the mother has too many outside activities. The moth er may be so concerned about the tasks of life that she is irritable in the pres ence of the children. Sometimes this is true when a child is bom late in life. There was a little son born into a certain home who was totally rejected. The boy grew up with all kinds of inner frustrations and problems. He didn’t feel wanted. One reason for the juvenile gangs is because they are seek ing for a sense of belonging. It is a need every human being experiences. If a child is a part of the home where father loves mother and mother loves father and together they love the child, then this is the foretaste of glory and harmony. There is nothing so wonder ful in all the world as a loving home where Christ is honored and where we live as joint heirs of the grace of God together. In such an atmosphere dis cipline is not only accepted, it is readi ly expected; it is what the child wants. There was a little girl who was guilty of stealing. She also had some other bad moral problems. When coun seled, the pitiful lass said, “Well, at
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker