The third thing you owe your child is: correction. Many parents make the mistake of always telling a child when he or she is wrong, rather than also taking the time to tell them how to get right, and stay right. Biblical correction involves both. The number one extra-biblical Beatitude for all parents is: ‘Blessed are the balanced.’ When you police a child but never play with them, you’re out of balance.
Note carefully what Solomon wrote: ‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.’ The word correct means to chastise, to reprove, or to force back to the right way. Always remember that discipline is like a two-edged sword; it’s not only to correct children when they’re wrong, but to direct them to a way that’s right.
And you’ll get better results from positive reinforcement than you will from negative reinforcement. Understand this: it’s not your job to make your child happy; it’s your job to nurture them into maturity. When you do that, their happiness is guaranteed! So you may as well quit trying to win a popularity contest with your child. They may always love you, but there are times when they definitely won’t like you! Don’t be discouraged. ‘This too shall pass.’ Just keep administering the right mixture of nurture and discipline, and eventually they’ll grow to like you again. More importantly, when they grow up, get married, and have children, they’ll have a role model and a plan for success.
2 Sam 3-5, John 17
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